ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM Thursday, October 31, 2013
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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GREEK LIFE
ALL OF THE LIGHTS
Theta Xi’s racialized party plans draw ire Students file complaints with administration By STEPHANIE SHENOUDA Daily Staff Reporter
LILY ANGELL/Daily
A University employee hangs lights on trees at Ingalls Mall Wednesday in preparation for the launch party for the University’s next fundraising campaign, Victors for Michigan. Thousands of lights will be put up around the Diag and Ingalls Mall in anticipation of the Nov. 8 kickoff.
CAMPUS LIFE
SAAN talks domestic violence County SafeHouse intern discusses types of abuse
Hall Wednesday night, captivated the audience with a simple line: “Domestic violence does not discriminate.” González is an intern at the SafeHouse Center, which provides support for Washtenaw County victims of domestic violence. González and a colleague led a discussion Wednesday about domestic violence and the importance of educating the community on the epidemic.
By CARLY FROMM Daily Staff Reporter
Social Work graduate student Krysten González, standing in a huddled group of about 20 students in East Quad Residence
The event was sponsored by the South Asian Awareness Network, in observation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The talk focused on different types of abuse — verbal, emotional, economic, sexual and physical — and how individuals can cope with abuse. “The most at-risk age group for women is ages 16 through 24, and that’s a lot of undergraduates — even some graduate stu-
DEFENSE!
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CSG internship program gears up for new year Interns are given opportunities not available to other freshmen in gov’t By PAULA FRIEDRICH Daily Staff Reporter
Central Student Government’s internship program is gearing up for another year. The goal of the program is to give motivated freshmen a chance to hone their leadership skills, get involved quickly and have a “big picture” view of CSG. The program was cut in 2007, but Manish Parikh, then CSG president, revived it in 2012. CSG President Michael Proppe said the intern experience is something that is usually only accessible through the Executive Commission or the General Assembly, both of which aren’t open to freshmen. Proppe said the program
was scaled down considerably from last year to create a more valuable experience for interns. The program has shifted from 24 interns to eight interns, each with an executive officer to help ease their workload. Proppe said the program also benefits interns by giving them responsibility early in their CSG careers, along with taking some of the research load off of himself. LSA sophomore Bryan Frederick said without the internship program he would never have gotten involved with CSG. “I wouldn’t know what the heck CSG is,” Frederick said. “I think that’s the reality of a lot of freshmen. They don’t know what CSG stands for or they just don’t know how to get involved.” Frederick was part of last year’s intern outreach team, which has since turned into a commission that he chairs. He said the intern program gave him “the guts” to do See CSG, Page 5A
dents — so it’s really important to get the message out there: what this is, what you can do and what resources are available to you,” González said. LSA junior Shaina Shetty, education and outreach co-chair of SAAN, emphasized the importance of a safe space for discussion. “The goal behind the workshop series as a whole is to proSee SAAN, Page 5A
An investigation has been launched into the University’s chapter of the Theta Xi fraternity after several students filed formal complaints with the University administration regarding the fraternity’s nowcancelled plans to host a party with a “ratchet” theme next Thursday. Many students of color say they were personally offended by the invitation that was sent via Facebook, complaining that it parodied Black culture and offended women, referring to twerking contests, “bad bitches,” gang references and repeated use of the word “ratchet.” Early Thursday morning, Theta Xi members said the fraternity won’t be comment-
ing on the matter. Fraternity brothers were camped out on the Diag for their annual “Defend the Diag” ritual. Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones, who lodged a formal complaint with the fraternity, said the University responded immediately and took student complaints very seriously. Jones held a meeting yesterday with the Greek Life Director Mary Beth Seiler, Interfraternity Council leaders and LSA senior Eric Quang, Theta Xi’s president. The University also reached out to Theta Xi’s national board, whose members expressed concern and are conducting their own investigation. The administration made it clear that the party will not be allowed to take place on Nov. 7, and Theta Xi’s national headquarters has determined all further social events will be suspended until their investigations are concluded. “It was very important that See PARTY, Page 5A
ANN ARBOR
Student runs for A2 council with focus on zoning reform Running with Mixed Use Party, LSA senior hopes to clinch Ward 2 ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Students participate in Theta Xi fraternity’s Defend the Diag ritual Wednesday. Members of the fraternity set up couches around the Block ‘M’ and had a raffle to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research.
ACADEMICS
$2M Info School initiative to boost student outreach Funds will support service projects, global impact By JENNIFER CALFAS Daily Staff Reporter
With just a week left before the launch of the University’s next fundraising campaign on
Nov. 8, the School of Information has a new endeavor of its own. The school’s Initiative for Information Impact, announced Monday, aims to establish new programs and enhance existing ones to engage more University students in information and technology related service projects. The $2-million
program will sponsor projects that put experience and interdisciplinary to work to improve quality of life for people around the world. Funded from a variety of outlets — including the school’s general fund budget, gifts, faculty donations and fundraising — the initiative introduces a host of new proSee INITIATIVE, Page 5A
By MATTHEW JACKONEN Daily Staff Reporter
The Mixed Use Party is shaking up Ann Arbor’s Ward 2 elections this November. LSA senior Conrad Brown, running for City Council as an independent, hopes to be a force to be reckoned with against independent incumbent Jane Lumm and Democratic challenger Kirk Westphal. Brown, along with the rest of the Mixed Use Party, bases his platform on concepts of fiscal conservatism and “classical liberalism.” “We are a political party that started in order to address some of these fundamental issues facing the city of Ann Arbor that in most ways our current and past city leaders have failed to address,” Brown said. “We are trying to offer some real reforms to address these issues, such as reforming the See REFORM, Page 5A
the halloween b-side A look behind the scenes of a local haunted house.
» INSIDE WEATHER TOMORROW
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INDEX
Vol. CXXIV, No. 20 ©2013 The Michigan Daily michigandaily.com
NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A S P O R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7A
SUDOKU.....................2A CL ASSIFIEDS...............6A B-SIDE ....................1B
News
2A — Thursday, October 31, 2013
MONDAY: This Week in History
TUESDAY: Professor Profiles
WEDNESDAY: In Other Ivory Towers
SWINGIN’ FUN
THURSDAY: Alumni Profiles
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Birmingham resident Mike Kopmeyer participates in a Swing Ann Arbor lesson at the Michigan Union Wednesday.
I had always been interested in short story and fiction writing, but journalism kind of just happened. Someone once approached me to write an article, and that’s how it started. I’ve written a lot of op-ed pieces for around 40
CRIME NOTES
regional newspapers, like The Miami Herald and also national publications like Mothering, Salon and Huffington Post.
How did your experiences at the University contribute to your success, both personally and professionally?
Why did you decide to write a memoir?
I absolutely loved my years at the University. I wish, and a lot of other alumni will tell you this, that I had taken more advantage of the resources. Our alumni network is amazing; they have been extraordinarily helpful. I can pick up the phone, call any alumni, and they will take the call and help me. Even alumni who are working in Hollywood, who are very busy, will take the time to talk to me.
I’ve written six novels, and I wanted to try a new genre. Actually, my mom suggested I write about my travels with my daughter. It was a four-part trip to Europe. We first went when my daughter was eight and then 11, 14, and the last one was when she was 16. I used to always tell people about my travels and they were like ‘You should write these down’ — and, eventually, I did.
CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES
Trick or treat!
Feasting gone wild
WHAT: Trick-or-Treat bags are available to pick up in CCI room 2205. Candy and prizes can be found in the Michigan Union, along with information about Union services. WHO: Center for Campus Involvement WHEN: Today from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: North Quad Residence Hall WHEN: Wednesday at about 9:25 p.m. WHAT: An unkown subject took a platter of various food items from North Quad without paying for it, University Police reported.
It’s gettin’ hot in here
Hands off the technology WHERE: Mott Children’s Hospital WHEN: Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. WHAT: An iPad was stolen from the seventh floor activity room, University Police reported. A possible suspect has been identified.
420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327 www.michigandaily.com
The traveling bestseller
What piqued your interest in writing novels?
WHERE: Campus Safety Services WHEN: Tuesday at about 12:10 p.m. WHAT: An unknown subejct used a student’s social security number for employment records, University Police reported. A clerical error was found to be the culprit.
FRIDAY: Photos of the Week
FROM THE HURON TO THE SIENNE
Jennifer Coburn is a bestselling fiction author and journalist whose novels include “Tales from the Crib” and “Reinventing Mona.” She graduated from the University in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Her new book, “We’ll Always Have Paris,” will be available in stores in April.
Who am I?
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Horror film festival
WHERE:West Quad Residence Hall WHEN: Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. WHAT: A fire extinguisher was found to be missing from its case in West Quad, University Police reported. There were no indicators of a fire or smoke present.
WHAT: Students can come experience the lesser known horror films from countries around the word, including Brazil, France and India. The day-long screening will cover everything from silly horror to the more “legitimately” scary. WHO: University Library WHEN: Today from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. WHERE: Graduate Library
MORE ONLINE Love Crime Notes?
Get more online at michigandaily.com/blogs/The Wire
Halloween frights WHAT: Come watch a classic Halloween movie, complete with popcorn and snacks. WHO:Center for Campus Involvement WHEN: Today from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. WHERE: Pierpont Commons
Puppet fun WHAT: Come see the play, Blind Summit: The Table, where a puppet struggles with a sudden existential crisis. The theatrical team who created the show also had a hand in Danny Boyle’s Olympic Opening Ceremony. General admission costs $35. WHO: University Musical Society WHEN: Today at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Performance Network
— TANAZ AHMED Read more at michigandaily.com
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TODAY
1
Guy Fieri, celebrity chef known for his hair, got into a scuffle with his hair dresser outside of his SUV, TMZ reported Wednesday. To the disappointment or perhaps delight of many, his hair remains as spikey as ever.
2
Turn to the b-side to get a behind the scenes look at Night Terrors, one of Michigan’s premier haunted houses. Also explored: Live Action Role Playing culture and its diehard fans in Ann Arbor.
3
Kanye West said his fiancee, Kim Kardashian, should be featured on the cover of Vogue, Politico reported Wednesday. Kanye reasoned this is only natural, as Michelle Obama was featured on the cover previously.
ANDREW WEINER
KIRBY VOIGTMAN
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NYC Council votes to raise City Council may repeal tobacco-buying age to 21 crosswalk ordinance City Councilman Gennaro said bill will save lives
tional City Councilman James Gennaro, the bill’s sponsor, whose mother and father died from tobacco-related illnesses. “I’ve lived with it, I’ve seen it ... but I feel good today.” Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is a strong supporter of the tough smoking restrictions, has 30 days to sign the bills into law. The minimum age bill will take effect 180 days after enactment. “We know that tobacco dependence can begin very soon after a young person first tries smoking so it’s critical that we stop young people from smoking before they ever start,” Bloomberg said in a statement. With Wednesday’s vote, New York is by far the biggest city to bar cigarette sales to 19- and 20-year-olds. Similar legislation is expected to come to a vote in Hawaii this December. The tobacco-buying age is 21 in Needham, Mass., and is poised
to rise to 21 in January in nearby Canton, Mass. The state of City council approved the reviNew Jersey is also considering sion to the ordinance in Decema similar proposal. ber 2011 that no longer required Lawmakers who pushed for vehicles to stop for pedestrians the change site city statistics approaching or within crossNEW YORK (AP) — Smokers that show youth smoking rates walks, instead requiring vehicles younger than 21 in the nation’s have plateaued at 8.5 percent By FARONE E. RASHEED to stop for a pedestrian standing biggest city will soon be barred since 2007. Daily Staff Reporter at the curb or within the crossfrom buying cigarettes after “We have to do more and walk. At the time, the revision the New York City Council that’s what we’re doing today,” A controversial city crosswalk was made to clear up ambiguity in voted overwhelming Wednessaid City Council Speaker ordinance continues to be a topic the wording of the ordinance. day to raise the tobacco-purChristine Quinn. “We have a of scrutiny by the Ann Arbor City But Petersen explained that the chasing age to higher than all real chance of leading the counCouncil members and residents, ordinance instills a false sense of and it may face repeal. security in pedestrians, who often but a few other places in the try and the world.” The dispute centers on an believe they have an absolute United States. The city’s current age limit excerpt of the Ann Arbor city right-of-way and that motorists City lawmakers approved is 18, a federal minimum that’s ordinance, Title X, Article XII, will stop when the pedestrians the bill — which raises from 18 standard in many places. Smok10.148. — which states that at reach the curb. to 21 the purchasing age for ciging in city parks and beaches intersections without traffic sig“What we’ve seen is that isn’t arettes, certain tobacco prodis already prohibited as it is in nals, drivers must stop for any necessarily the case – that motoructs and even electronic-vapor restaurants. pedestrian stopped at the curb, ists don’t stop because this local smokes — and another that sets Advocates say higher age curb line or ramp leading to a law — A, it’s not enforced in Ann a minimum $10.50-a-pack price limits help prevent, or at least crosswalk. Arbor, and, B, it’s not the same as for tobacco cigarettes and steps delay, young people from takThis is in contrast to the in other communities,” Petersen up law enforcement on illegal ing up a habit that remains the Michigan Uniform Traffic Code, said. “I think it’s confusing to tobacco sales. leading cause of preventable http://sudokusyndication.com/sudoku/generator/print/ Sudoku Syndication which more broadly states that drivers because it’s inconsistent.” “This will literally save deaths nationwide. And supdrivers should yield the rightCouncilwoman Sabra Briere many, many lives,” said an emoporters point to drinking-age of-way when a pedestrian is in (D–Ward 1), on the other hand, laws as a precedent for setting a crosswalk on the half of the did not see a repeal of the ordithe bar at 21. roadway on which the vehicle is nance as a good solution to existBut cigarette manufacturtraveling, or when the pedestrian ing problems. ers have suggested young is approaching closely from the “Part of the problem with seeadult smokers may just turn to HARD opposite site of the freeway. The ing the ordinance as the issue is black-market merchants. And state code prohibits pedestrians that it places the fault for a trafsome smokers say it’s unfair from walking in front of a vehicle fic accident on an ordinance that and patronizing to tell people when the driver lacks sufficient I would bet most people haven’t considered mature enough to load to yield read, much less haven’t heard vote and serve in the military Councilmember Sally Petersen about,” Briere said. “A pedesthat they’re not old enough to (D–Ward 2) said she, along with trian in a crosswalk always has decide whether to smoke. Councilmembers Sumi Kailasap- the right to be in the crosswalk “New York City already has athy (D–Ward 1) and Jane Lumm and repealing this ordinance — the highest cigarette tax rate (I–Ward 2) plan to co-sponsor whether that’s a good idea or a and the highest cigarette smuga motion that would repeal the bad idea — doesn’t address the gling rate in the country,” said city’s requirement that drivers problems along Plymouth Road.” Bryan D. Hatchell , a spokesstop for pedestrians when they Briere expressed a desire to man for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco are standing at the curb. She said see increased enforcement of the Company, which makes Camel the resolution would better align ordinance, with an overall objecand other brands. “Those go Ann Arbor code with the MUTC, tive of promoting crosswalk safehand in hand and this new law which the rest of the state follows. ty. will only make the problem worse.” A coalition of bodegas and tobacco store owners funded by tobacco-manufactures also slammed the council’s vote Wednesday, particularly the bill that sets the minimum © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. puzzle by sudokusyndication.com HAPPY HALLOWEEN! prices and bans tobacco product discounts and coupons. Ramon Murphy, president Generate and solve Sudoku, Super Sudoku and Godoku puzzles at sudokusyndication.com!
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Members say ordinance conflicts with state law
The Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition has also opposed calls to repeal the ordinance, and started an online petition to help preserve the current statute. WBWC Erica Briggs explained that the difference between the state and city laws was based on interpretation. While states like California have established that the crosswalk begins while the pedestrian waits at the curb, the MUTC stipulates that the crosswalk does not begin until one steps into the street. “There are a number of studies that have shown that we basically need coordinated education, enforcement and good appropriate engineering,” Briggs said. “We haven’t very successfully done that in our community.” Consequently, she iterated concerns about residents, particularly those with disabilities, crossing large streets, such as Jackson Road, in a safe and efficient manner without the requirements set by the local ordinance. “It became very apparent that when traffic didn’t stop, people were pretty much putting their life in their own hands and it was really risky,” Briggs said. With the process still ongoing, the coalition continues to work with city officials in developing an effective and efficient crosswalk policy. “What we all agreed on is that we all want pedestrians to be safe, and we all want to pedestrians to have access to a road to be able to cross it safely,” Petersen said. “Where we differ is how that should happen.”
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News
Thursday, October 31, 2013 — 3A
Assad: Support for rebel groups must cease
NEWS BRIEFS LANSING, Mich.
State House votes to add extra safety drills in schools Michigan schools would conduct one extra lockdown drill and one fewer fire drill a year under legislation approved in the state House. Republican Rep. Joseph Graves of Linden said Wednesday that his bill also would require school districts to post documentation of completed disaster safety drills on their websites within five school days. The measure was introduced after MLive.com reported school safety laws were routinely ignored and state officials didn’t know the scope of the problem. It’s backed by a task force appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder after the school massacre in Connecticut.
BUFFALO, New York
Bus driver stops woman from jumping off bridge A bus driver is being hailed as a hero for preventing a woman from jumping off a Buffalo highway overpass. About 20 McKinley High School students had just stepped aboard Darnell Barton’s Metro bus Oct. 18 when he spotted a woman who had climbed over a guardrail and stood leaning over the afternoon traffic zipping along the Scajaquada Expressway below. With cars and an occasional pedestrian continuing to pass by her, Barton wasn’t sure at first that the woman was in distress. He stopped his bus, opened the door and asked if she needed help, at that moment conflicted between the rules of his job, which required him to call his dispatcher, and his training as a former volunteer firefighter and member of the Buffalo Special Police, which told him that if he made contact, he shouldn’t break it.
LONDON
British journalists plead guilty for phone hacking A prosecutor said Wednesday that there was “a conspiracy which involved a significant number of people” to hack phones at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World, revealing that three senior journalists at the now-defunct newspaper have pleaded guilty to illegally eavesdropping on voicemails. Opening the long-awaited hacking trial of former News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and others, prosecution lawyer Andrew Edis said hacking and other illegal activity at the paper and its sister tabloid, The Sun, went on for a decade. He said it was inconceivable that the top executives didn’t know about it.
MEXICO CITY
Mexico evacuates 4,500 residents due to gas line leak A geyser of gasoline spewing from a state-owned pipeline in western Mexico forced officials to evacuate about 4,500 people on Wednesday. Officials blamed the accident on fuel thieves. Photos from the scene in the town of Tlajomulco, near the city of Guadalajara, showed a plume of gasoline shooting into the air from the pipeline, located in a field near a housing development. Guadalajara is Mexico’s second-largest city and the capital of Jalisco state. The gasoline had not caught fire and there were no immediate reports of injuries. The closest homes were about 150 yards (meters) from the leak. —Compiled from Daily wire reports
Syrian leaders comments casts more doubt on peace efforts DITA ALANGKARA/AP
In this Aug. 1 photo, a teenage sex worker, right, lights up a cigarette as her pimp identified as Chimoy, left, looks on in a room at a boarding house in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
Minors pimping out kids for sex in Indonesia Ringleaders can earn up to $400 per month in commission BANDUNG, Indonesia (AP) — Chimoy flicks a lighter and draws a long drag until her cheeks collapse on the skinny Dunhill Mild, exhaling a column of smoke. Her no-nonsense, tough-girl attitude projects the confidence of a woman in her 30s, yet she’s only 17. Colorful angel and butterfly tattoos cover her skin, and she wears a black T-shirt emblazoned with a huge skull. Chimoy — by her own account and those of other girls and social workers — is a pimp. She got into the business when she was 14. A boyfriend’s sister asked her to sell herself for sex, but she recruited a friend for the job instead. Then she established a pimping operation that grew to include a car, a house and some 30 working girls earning her up to $3,000 a month — a small fortune in a poor country. “The money was too strong to resist,” she says. “I was really proud to make money on my own.” Two years ago in Indonesia, there were zero reports of child pimps like Chimoy who work as the boss with no adults behind the scenes. But the National Commission for Child Protection says 21 girls between 14
and 16 have been caught working as “mamis” so far this year, and there are likely far more. It’s easier than ever. Kids can use text messages and social media to book clients and make transactions without ever standing on a dark corner in a miniskirt and heels. “The sickening thing is you see 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds, getting into these practices,” says Leonarda Kling, Jakartabased regional representative for Terre des Hommes Netherlands, a nonprofit working on trafficking issues. “You think: ‘The whole future of this child is just going to waste.’” Chimoy, who has occasionally worked as a prostitute, and other teens in the sex industry interviewed for this story are identified by their nicknames. The Associated Press does not typically identify children who have been sexually abused. Recently, in the eastern city of Surabaya, a 15-year-old was busted after escorting three other teens to meet clients at a hotel. Police spokeswoman Maj. Suparti says the girl employed 10 prostitutes — including classmates, Facebook friends and even her older sister — and collected up to a quarter of the $50 to $150 received for each call. She conducted business over the popular BlackBerry Messenger service, earning up to $400 a month, says Suparti, who uses one name like many Indonesians. The girl also met potential clients in malls or res-
taurants first to size them up. “She was running her pimp action like a professional,” Suparti says. ____ Human trafficking and sex tourism have long been big business in this vast archipelago of 240 million, thanks to rampant corruption, weak law enforcement and a lack of reporting largely due to family embarrassment or little faith in the system. The U.N. International Labor Organization estimates 40,000 to 70,000 children become victims of sexual exploitation in Indonesia annually. Much of this abuse is driven by adults, but poverty and consumerism play a role. Indonesia’s have-nots rub up against a growing middle class obsessed with the latest gadgets and the ultra-wealthy flaunting their designer clothes and luxury cars. It was a smartphone that drove soft-spoken Daus into prostitution at age 14. The son of a factory worker and a street food vendor, the lanky boy says he was soon making $400 to $500 a month for having sex regularly with three women in their 30s and 40s. “I didn’t want to do it, but I had to have the BlackBerry,” he says. Indonesia is a socialmedia crazed country that ranks as one of the world’s top Facebook and Twitter users. “If we don’t have a BlackBerry, we feel we are nothing, and we are ignored by our friends.”
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Arab League-U.N. envoy Wednesday that foreign support for the armed opposition must end if any political solution to the country’s conflict is to succeed, state-run media said. Assad’s comments to Lakhdar Brahimi during their meeting in Damascus cast further doubt on already sputtering efforts to convene an international peace conference to try to end the country’s civil war. The United States, Russia and the United Nations have been trying for months to bring the Syrian government and the opposition together in Geneva to attempt to negotiate a political resolution to the conflict. After repeated delays, efforts renewed in earnest last month to organize the conference, but the Syrian opposition remains deeply divided over whether to attend, while the government refuses to sit down with the armed opposition. Brahimi’s trip to Damascus was the latest stop on a regional tour in recent days as he tries to lay the groundwork for the proposed peace talks in Geneva that are tentatively planned for next month. But Assad, whose government has regained the momentum in recent months in the conflict, showed little sign of inching toward compromise. “For any political solution to be successful, it is crucial to halt support for terrorist groups and the countries that sponsor them, facilitate the entry of terrorist mercenaries and offer them money, weapons and logistical support,” Assad was quoted by Al-Ikhbariya television as telling Brahimi. “The Syrian people alone are entitled to draw the future of Syria. Any solution
must be approved by them and reflect their wishes away from any foreign intervention.” “This is paramount to prepare the circumstances for dialogue and put clear mechanisms that achieve this goal,” Assad said. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among the Syrian opposition’s most active supporters, providing financial and logistical support to the rebels. The United States and some of its European allies have provided non-lethal aid, although Washington has promised for months to send light arms to Westernbacked opposition fighters. The meeting Wednesday between Brahimi and Assad was the first direct contact between the men in 10 months. After his last trip to Syria in December 2012, Brahimi angered Syrian authorities when he said that 40 years of rule by Assad’s family was “too long.” Syrian officials then accused him of being biased. The diplomatic push aims to end a conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people and forced some 2 million more to flee the country. Now in its third year, the civil war pits a primarily Sunni Muslim rebel movement against a government whose security forces are stacked with members of Assad’s Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activist group said rebels killed at least 17 people in an attack on a predominantly Alawite village in the central province of Homs early Wednesday. Observatory directory Rami Abdurrahman said the opposition fighters killed six government troops at a checkpoint in Shallouh before sweeping into the village itself, where they killed 11 residents. The SANA state news agency blamed the attack on a “terrorist group,” and said 13 locals were killed. The report did not mention any slain soldiers. The government refers to those trying to topple Assad as “terrorists.”
Saudi writer who opposed driving Newtown families ask task ban detained force to not release 911 tapes Male columnist Relatives say written transcripts of the calls are permissible
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A husband and a mother of two victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre told a Connecticut task force Wednesday they don’t want the 911 tapes released, saying no one needs to hear the sounds from that day. Bill Sherlach, whose wife, Mary, was killed on Dec. 14, said the panel should recommend a compromise to state lawmakers, such as providing members of the media and others a written transcription of the emergency calls. “There must be some sort of balance between making sure that the public’s right to know is sustained while the victims-ofcertain-atrocities’ right to privacy is also honored,” Sherlach told the task force members. He added that “911 transcripts can relay all the necessary information that the public wants without having to hear the sounds of a slaughter in the background.” Hours later, the prosecutor leading the investigation of the shooting filed an application, asking a Connecticut court to stay an order by the state’s Freedom of Information Commission last month to release the 911 tapes. The panel had ruled in favor of The Associated Press, which sought access to the recordings.
Danbury State’s Attorney Stephen Sedensky II argued that the stay would ensure his appeal of the FOI’s decision is not rendered moot; records of child abuse are not unlawfully disclosed; victims and witnesses are not intimated; and statements of victims and witnesses are not released. The AP routinely requests such documents in news gathering. It was done in part to examine the police response to the massacre that sent officers from multiple agencies racing to the school. The shooting left 20 first graders and six educators dead. If the recordings are released, the AP would review the content and determine what, if any of it would meet the news cooperative’s standards for publication. “AP’s motivation here is simple. This was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, and we’re pressing for access to recordings that could shed light on the law enforcement response,” said William J. Kole, New England bureau chief for the news cooperative. In June, Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation that prevented the public release of crime scene photos and video evidence depicting a homicide victim if those records constitute an “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” of the victim or the victim’s surviving family members. The new law also created a one-year moratorium on the release of certain portions of audiotape and other recordings in which the condition of
a homicide victim is described. The exemption did not, however, include 911 emergency call recordings, which are typically released in Connecticut. The same legislation created The Task Force on Victim Privacy and the Public’s Right to Know and charged it with coming up with recommendations for the General Assembly to consider in next year’s new legislative session. Earlier this month, an attorney representing 22 of the 26 families who lost relatives in the shooting asked that the audiotape of the Sandy Hook 911 calls not be publicly released. Both Sherlach and Nicole Hockley, whose son, Dylan, was killed, said they are not asking for a categorical exclusion of all 911 audio tapes from the state’s FOI Act. Rather, they said different elements of each case need to be considered before releasing the tapes. “We’re not saying all or nothing,” Hockley said. They maintain that the sensitivity of the Sandy Hook shooting, the emotional impact the tapes would have on families and the fact there’s no question about who committed the crime support their argument that the tapes should not be released in their case. They also remain concerned about the crime scene photos someday being released, predicting such images and sounds would live forever on the Internet and would be used by people with various political agendas.
had criticized gov. crackdown on women drivers
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi authorities have detained a columnist who supported ending his country’s ban on women driving, activists said Wednesday. The activists, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, said Tariq alMubarak was called by investigators in the capital Riyadh concerning a stolen car over the weekend. When he arrived at the Interior Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Department on Sunday, he was interrogated instead about his role in a campaign launched by reformers seeking the right of women to drive in the kingdom. When his friends were informed they could pick him up at the investigator’s office, they too were detained for several hours and questioned over the campaign’s activities, activists said. Human Rights Watch and activists who know al-Mubarak say he remains in detention with no access to a lawyer. The New York-based organization called for al-Mubarak’s immediate release and on authorities “to stop harassing and trying to intimidate activists and women who defied the driving ban.” The spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Mansour alTurki, could not be reached for
comment. In a column published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq alAwsat the day of his arrest, alMubarak said extremists are intimidating people from exercising their rights. He said the courts in Saudi Arabia do not have sufficient provisions to deter those who threaten and terrorize others from exercising their freedoms because “rights and freedoms ... are not instilled in our culture, nor our interpretation of religion.” Al-Mubarak, who also works as a schoolteacher, was among a core group of active young Saudis calling for women’s right to drive. Around 60 women claimed they got behind the wheel Saturday to oppose the ban. The campaign sparked protest by the kingdom’s ultraconservative religious establishment. The reformers behind the Oct. 26 driving campaign say their efforts are ongoing and that they continue to receive videos by women filming themselves flouting the driving ban. The activists told The Associated Press that they have been followed for the past several days and are anticipating arrest. They have put in place contingency plans and emergency numbers for journalists and rights organizations to call in case they are detained. At least two women have been fined recently by police for driving, the activists said. Samia El-Moslimany said she was given a nearly $135 fine for driving in the kingdom, though she has a U.S. driver’s license.
Opinion
4A — Thursday, October 31, 2013
Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MELANIE KRUVELIS ANDREW WEINER EDITOR IN CHIEF
and ADRIENNE ROBERTS
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS
MATT SLOVIN MANAGING EDITOR
Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors.
FROM THE DAILY
Move forward fairly with FAFSA Lack of transparency leaves some students at a disadvantage
T
his fall, millions of prospective college students around the nation will be filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, to determine if they are eligible for financial aid. The FAFSA allows students to list 10 schools where they would like their form to be submitted; many students, however, are unaware that some colleges use these rankings to inform their admission decision. In some cases, depending on how students ranked schools, university admission offices use that list to determine how much aid to grant students, often offering less money to students who rank their university highest. Universities are concealing their use of these FAFSA lists in order to best gauge student interest and save money, but a lack of transparency creates inaccurate surveys and hurts both schools and students. The fact that the admissions process considers how students prioritize their potential schools in the FAFSA needs to become common knowledge in order for both sides to benefit. According to the College Board, more than two-thirds of full-time undergraduate students receive some type of financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships or work-study. Filling out the FAFSA provides a gateway to the nine federal student-aid grants, the 605 state student-aid program and most of the institutional aid available. It includes more than 100 questions about a student’s assets, income and dependency that are used alongside several other factors to determine a student’s financial aid eligibility. The form notes that the information included can be sent to state agencies that will be awarding the student’s aid, but it fails to mention that the same information will be sent to individual colleges — let alone used by these schools as a calculated admission tool. Universities have found that their ranking on the FAFSA list is a very reliable tool in determining a student’s commitment to that institutions. W. Kent Barnds, executive vice president of Augustana College, shared with CBS News.com that 60 percent of students who list Augustana first on their FAFSA list end up enrolling — a much higher percentage when compared to 30 percent of those who listed it second and the 10 percent who listed it third. The lack of transparency around this tactic is unfair to those students who rank schools unaware of how the information can be used,
both in determining a student’s admission and financial aid package. Counselors who are aware of this secretive, but strategic admission tool have advised their students to list the schools alphabetically to avoid disclosing their preferences. Students who are aware of this policy may rearrange their list to game the system, leaving other students at a disadvantage. The institutions also suffer because when students are not aware of this process, the information listed is less accurate, and therefore less useful for the schools. Last Friday, InsideHigherEd contacted the U.S. Department of Education about this issue, and they said they will “review the longstanding practice of sharing the FAFSA positions with every college.” The department should undoubtedly work to make this a more transparent process that cannot adversely affect those who are unaware of how their information is being used. One way that the Department of Education can work to make sure this process is beneficial to both students and institutions is by automatically alphabetizing the school rankings. This way, schools will know that they are part of the student’s top-10 list without rankings. If a student wishes to show more interest in particular schools, it is that student’s prerogative to reach out to these specific institutions and move forward in a way that is transparent and fair.
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, James Brennan, Eric Ferguson, Jordyn Kay, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis, Maura Levine, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Victoria Noble, Adrienne Roberts, Paul Sherman, Daniel Wang, Derek Wolfe
ERIN FISCHER | VIEWPOINT
‘Hood rachet Thursday’ As a member of Greek life, I clicked on my Facebook notifications to find yet another fraternity party invitation. I viewed the event page to see what exactly Theta Xi was inviting me to this week, and what I found was confusing, disturbing and hurtful. “World Star Hip Hop Presents: Hood Ratchet Thursday,” read the event title. The description went on to inform me that “bad bitches, white girls, basketball players, thugs, gangsters” and “ratchet pussy” (a new term to me) were all invited. Scrolling down the event page, I was appalled by photos of Black men holding fistfuls of money and multiple comments made by people I’ve met and know stating, “BEST THEME EVER” and “I’m dressing as Lil’ Wayne/Nicki Minaj”. This invite was sent to me because I’m a member of Greek life. As a member of Greek life I can only speak for myself, not my sorority or anyone with similar identities to my own. It was assumed that my member status negates me from being offended by such an oppressive and derogatory theme and the subsequent comments. It angers me that members of a community — that I often defend to others — could exploit the identities of students and faculty on this campus. It’s sad to see that list of Greek life members I defend shrink right before my eyes. “Why can’t you just take the joke?” so many have already asked. I can’t take the joke because of the alarming number of fraternity brothers that have asked me if I’m from Detroit when I attend their events as one of the few women
of color. I can’t take the joke because of the obscene number of times I’ve been asked to “twerk” and “dance” for these white men, because my Black identity obviously tells them I possess the inherent talent and desire to do so. I can’t take the joke because I don’t have the luxury to remove the labels of “hood,” “ratchet” or “bad bitch” after the party ends. The privileged students on this campus tie those labels to my identity because of my racial minority status. I can’t take the joke because racism and oppression are alive and well on this campus; a campus where I’m often the only person of color in a classroom. And when I speak in that classroom, what I have to say is taken as the narrative of every other Black woman these privileged students come in contact with. So no, I cannot simply take the joke that Theta Xi thought was an appropriate way to invite the people they share this campus with, to have a nice time at their event. Theta Xi invited the wrong “bad bitch” to their party. Their first mistake was allowing this incredibly offensive party theme to make its way to a Facebook invite that infiltrated our campus. Theta Xi’s second mistake was commenting and posting on the event page — making a mockery out of a culture they do not belong to. Their third mistake was inviting me; assuming that as a member of Greek life I would be a bystander, doing nothing to stop “Hood Ratchet Thursday” from going on without a hitch. Erin Fischer is an LSA senior.
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The problem with ghosts
hosts are lame. Ghosts are boring. Ghosts are wholly uninteresting things. Spooks and ghouls trapped between this world and the next, ghosts are typically described as the soul or spirit of a person who has died and for BARRY whatever rea- BELMONT son not gone to the place where everyone else goes. Typically they’re these semi-translucent shapes of their former selves trying to convey messages, scare people or just wait out eternity. I suppose the nicest thing that can be said about ghosts is that they aren’t real. Let me state that emphatically: There are no ghosts. There are no hauntings. Everything that goes bump in the night has a name, and there is nothing under your bed aside from what you yourself have placed there. We do not live in a paranormal world. However, we also do not live in a normal world. Far too many of the possible experiences this universe has to offer are outside of sensible reality for us to call anything around us normal or ordinary. Our universe is extraordinary, and that’s my problem with ghosts. If pop culture is anything to go by — and it probably isn’t — then the above description I gave for ghosts tends to hold true. This is what people report when they report seeing ghosts. When places are said to be haunted, they are often said to be haunted by someone who died there under bad circumstances — think Civil War battlefields, abandoned hospitals or hotels with a sordid past. Observers of ghosts
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
will say they see soldiers, patients and caregivers — all people. And that’s my first gripe with ghosts: Why stay in the shape of one’s former body? Why not become gigantic or exceedingly small? Why not experience the world from the perspective of an amoeba or a nebula? And beyond that, why stay in the shape of your former body, let alone go to the trouble of wearing the clothes you died in? Is there some limitation on how far ghostly particles can spread apart from one another or some inhibition from them assembling in some manner beside how they were moments before someone’s death? How do ghosts’ underwear know to travel with them to the other realm but not to do so if simply thrown away? And just which of a person’s earthly possessions knows to follow to the afterlife? Clothes have figured this out, but cars and computers are notably absent. And exactly which moment before, during or after the death process does one become a ghost? The cells of a person continue living long after they themselves have died. So too do the populations of bacteria we culture all throughout ourselves — and the 100 trillion or so microorganisms in our guts surely appreciate it. A heart can stop beating before a brain ceases to work; a brain can die long before the rest of the body. Strokes and ablations can ruin parts of the brain years before death, so does my soul know this and adjust accordingly? And has the spiritual world figured out how blood transfusions and organ transplants affect their ghostly systems? They figured out their clothing policy, but have they really kept up with the medical literature? And why is it that ghosts only seem to be found in dark/aban-
doned/scary places? As I said, ghosts supposedly walk the grounds of where they met their untimely deaths, but what is offbounds here? Are there ghost police that say other ghosts can go a couple hundred feet from the spot of their demise, but not a couple hundred more? Can they go up in the sky, down in the ground? How far? Is it a spherical region equidistant in all directions? Referenced to the earth obviously, otherwise every death would just leave a spectral breadcrumb trail of the path of the earth as it spins (at about 1,000 mph), as it goes around the sun (at about 67,000 mph), as the sun goes through the galaxy (at about 420,000 mph), as our galaxy moves through the universe (at about 2.2 million mph). If ghosts like dark/ abandoned/scary places, there are few better than the distances between galaxies. Our universe is extraordinary and ghosts are boring. With this universe around all around us at its different scales of space and time, why would anyone bother scaring teenagers? Ghosts are free of their earthly limitations. They could hear the moan of space-time warping around giant stars, they could taste black holes and they could smell the void. Even if required to stay on earth they could experience the molten center of it, a thing of cosmic beauty just beneath our feet. They could watch evolutionary processes on a global scale. They could feel our world grow warm. They could do so much and they don’t. This is why ghosts are lame. Or maybe I’ve gotten this all wrong, maybe that is what they’re all doing. At least that would explain why we don’t see them. — Barry Belmont can be reached at belmont@umich.edu.
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City council elections are an opportunity to voice progressive values TO THE DAILY: On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Ann Arbor City Council elections will be held in all five wards. Students in Ann Arbor, as a significant portion of the city’s population, will have the opportunity to determine their representation on the most fundamental level. It’s easy to get caught up in the spectacle and scale of federal politics and lose sight of the decisions being made locally. However, local politics affect you more than you might realize. City council determines the bus routes
for the AATA buses you use. City council mandates that landlords provide you with the “Rights and Duties of Tenants” booklet. City council’s commitment to the environment provides you electricity from nearly 68,000 square feet of solar panels on North Campus. Much more than on the federal and state level, constituents feel local policies in a very real way. Election Day is our opportunity to voice our progressive values. The Democratic candidates have proven to be allies of students and rely on our support in elections. Democracy simply doesn’t work without participation. If you’ve registered to vote in Ann Arbor make sure you get out and vote on Nov. 5. Trevor Dolan LSA sophomore
STUDENT UNION OF MICHIGAN | VIEWPOINT
Why we should say no to Munger dorm A few months ago, we were treated to another media blitz over the “largest donation in the University of Michigan’s history,” $110 million from the Charles Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, earmarked for a graduate dormitory. Donations like Munger’s are presented as unqualified wins for the University. By cultivating relationships with successful alumni, the University grows its endowment and receives money for infrastructure projects that, in theory, provide needed educational and residential spaces. But is this the whole story? In the last decade, the University has transformed itself into an institution that is run for-profit and increasingly tied to Wall Street investment banks, hedge funds and institutional investors. In the turn to profit, the University has decided to pursue wealthy out-of-state students who can pay outrageously high tuition. To do so, it has had to borrow extensively to build new buildings and facilities that would attract such students: As of Dec. 31, 2012, the University had $1.8 billion in outstanding — primarily construction — debt secured by general revenues which include student tuition. This has meant developing relationships with investment banks and institutional investors who buy the University’s construction bonds. These investors, however, will buy bonds only if they are very secure: As a result, the University, like many other universities, has offered up student’s future tuition as collateral for this debt and engaged in aggressive campaigns against unionized and precarious workers’ wages and benefits. Large donations are a critical part of this strategy of building to attract wealthy consumers. One of the hidden costs of large donations for infrastructure is that they actually force the University deeper
into debt. For example, the Munger graduate dorms’ projected price is $185 million. Of the $110 million pledged by Munger, $100 million will go toward construction, so what began as a “donation” has now turned into $85 million of debt for the University. Such donations don’t address the needs of students; rather, they advance the pet projects and educational ideologies of the rich. If this donation is a “gift,” is it most certainly in the form of a Trojan Horse. Donations are inherently antidemocratic — a stealthy way to avoid any kind of due process or checks on university spending. If the University had decided outright to build a $185-million dormitory, graduate students — and undergraduates too, since their debt is going to pay for $85 million of it — would have had something to say about the project. Instead, because it was a donation there was no public discussion about the project and no debate over its need. Rather, there was only an announcement from above. Had the administration consulted its graduate students, it might have considered potential gender, sex and trans-gender concerns with such a project. The University and Munger claim that “throwing” students together will result in the “liberation” and “creation” of knowledge — “breaking down the silos” — but it might actually result in unsafe living conditions for many groups, in particular queer-identified individuals, trans-people and women. Moreover, at their estimated current price point — $1,000 per month — the Munger dorms will cost graduate student instructors 77 percent of their yearly income to live there — truly, this is the liberation we have been waiting for. Given the amount of graduate student ire after the dorm project’s
announcement, it’s clear the administration has overstepped on this project. They’ve taken a donation that a rich plutocrat hung in front of their noses and are trapped into building something that even they don’t want. The question is then what to do about it? The option we propose has two parts. First, we should demand that the University reject all donations that come with strings attached. This means we should demand that the University return Munger’s donation. We must reject all donations that contribute to the financialization of the University through construction bonds and student debt. As such, big spending decisions should be made through a democratic body composed of students — graduate and undergraduate — and workers from all areas of the University and University of Michigan Health System. However, it seems unlikely that the University will return the Munger donation and even less likely that they will include students and workers in the decisionmaking process on how funds are allocated. That means that the only way is to oppose the building project through direct action. If you feel strongly that the University should not be spending $85 million on a dorm that no one wants, if you feel that the University should not be trying to avoid public discussions of how resources are allocated, and if you feel that the University should not let itself become the site of the educational experiments of conservatives and the far-right, we ask you to join us Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. in Canterbury House for an open meeting to discuss what steps we should take next. Paige Andersson and Brian Whitener are Rackham students.
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PARTY From Page 1A we all get together and discuss the impact this unfortunate event has had on the University community, as well as our expectations moving forward,” Jones said. “Obviously, the way the party was both conceived of and executed is in direct contradiction to the standards of our university.” Jones plans to meet with students Thursday to discuss ways of remedying the situation, as well as making sure their underlying concerns about racial issues on campus are addressed. She added that an e-mail informing students of the discussion and expressing disappointment will be sent out Thursday to address a largely “negative” situation. While Jones stopped short of calling events like this a trend, she said it’s clear that some level of education and dialogue is necessary to ensure that students are aware what language and behavior is appropriate, and how cultural appropriation has potential for harm. “In society we certainly see examples, not only in parties but in the media and how people present themselves; it’s certainly not a problem unique to Greek Life or our campus,” Jones said. “The incident in question was not only racially offensive, but degrading to women in general, and the most restorative way to
SAAN From Page 1A vide a space for conversations that aren’t normally had and conversations that you need a safe environment to have,” Shetty said. “It’s a space to have honest conversations about our experiences and to be open with each other.” By fostering a dialogue among the students, González hoped to make a sensitive subject more comfortable to confront. “Domestic violence and a lot of violence against women and children are invisible, and it’s a taboo topic, and people think it’s
CSG From Page 1A meaningful work within CSG, crediting a close relationship with Parikh. “He advocated for me when I wanted to start my own commission,” Frederick said. While Frederick admits 24 interns was too many, he thinks downsizing the program is a loss because it gives fewer freshmen a
INITIATIVE From Page 1A grams that focus on increasing the variety of projects that Information students can apply their skills to. Jeff MacKie-Mason, dean of the School of Information, said. Wednesday that the initiative aligns with the school’s strategic goals of harnessing the power of applied information to improve people’s lives. “We’ve always known and believed in the power of experimental learning,” MacKie-Mason said. “We want to increase the amount of that, with a particularly strong focus on service.” MacKie-Mason convened a strategic planning session three years ago when he assumed his post, succeeding Martha Pollack, who is now University Provost. He added that faculty, students and staff were consulted to ensure the program’s goals aligned with the needs and aspirations of the different constituencies. Judy Lawson, the School of Information assistant dean of academic and student affairs, said MacKie-Mason’s efforts as dean have refocused the school’s mission. “Our dean has recommitted the
move forward is to provide education on why this is not acceptable.” The fraternity is in the process of drafting an apology to the students who came forward, which will later be broadly circulated as a means of accepting responsibility for their situation, Jones said. LSA junior Geralyn Gaines, secretary for the Black Student Union, described her initial reaction to the event as “complete and utter disgust.” She said this was the first time she’s personally experienced racism on campus or felt specifically targeted and attacked. “I love U of M and even today I’m fundamentally happy, but it’s scary to think that I sit in class with people who think this way and people that agree with them, people who legitimately thought this party was a good idea and was okay,” Gaines said. “The invitation amplified stereotypes and used a level of disgusting language that it was evident they actively tried to offend us.” Gaines said she was particularly offended by the use of the word “ratchet,” which she says is prominently used in the Black community to describe something terrible or someone who doesn’t know how to handle themselves. She also took issue with the invitees section, which specifically asked for “bad bitches” and “rachet pussy,” which she believes was an attempt to make a mockery of Black culture. Gaines believes that requir-
ing the University to approve all party themes moving forward would help avoid similar issues in the future. Music, Theatre & Dance senior Erica Nagy said she was compelled to write a formal complaint after seeing the emotional toll the situation took on her roommate. “We were all mad and found the situation unacceptable, especially after seeing how upset she’d been the whole day after carrying this hurt around with her,” Nagy said. “You don’t have to be a certain race to be offended by racist material; I think anyone who isn’t offended isn’t paying attention.” She specifically took issue with the fact that no one involved in the fraternity identified with Black culture and that they used language “that wasn’t theirs to use” in an attempt to directly offend people. Though this was the first time she had been invited to a party with an offensive theme, Nagy she knows it happens often — both in and out of Greek Life — because people don’t understand the ramifications of cultural appropriation. “I guess my hope for all of this is that it starts a conversation about race on this campus so that people can learn that their words and actions truly affect other people,” she said. “I don’t want to see (Theta Xi) punished because I don’t think that would solve the true problem here; we need to get people talking and learning.”
a private matter, but it’s actually a social disease,” González said. “It’s very preventable. That’s why I’m here doing community education — because I think that’s the first step of prevention.” One student raised his hand and asked, “How do you respond if a friend comes to you and confides in you that they are being abused?”Another student asked what to do if the victim does not want to seek help. Although it is common to become frustrated with victims of domestic violence who refuse to leave their abusers, González stressed the importance of a non-judgmental support system.
“Statistics say it takes a victim seven to eight (incidents of abuse) to leave,” she said. Business senior Yash Bhutada, co-chair of SAAN, thought the event was a success. “I think it was really nice to talk about something serious in a comfortable and safe setting and, hopefully, people go out and are comfortable talking about these issues, spreading it onto their friends who weren’t able to come to the event,” Bhutada said. SAAN hosts SAAN Talks twice a month. Each talk aims to generate a dialogue on a specific topic. Recent talks have been focused on bullying and identity.
chance to get involved. But leaders say a smaller cohort will allow each intern to develop a close relationship with the executive officer they are assigned to, something that Business sophomore Kevin Ziegler found to be the most valuable part of his experience as intern to former CSG treasurer Chris Osborn, an LSA senior. “He took a personal investment, making sure he helped develop me as a leader and as a
professional,” Ziegler said. “He actually sat down as often as he could and just held a little bit of training sessions in various areas.” This year’s intern class has only been on the job for a week. LSA freshman Lauren Krzisnik, who is one of Proppe’s interns, said she will be helping research other school’s football admission policies after this year’s switch to general admission.
school towards core values that we’ve had throughout our history, but now we want to make those values and act on them in a more forward-thinking way in terms of getting our students involved in making a difference in the world,” Lawson said. Some of the programs supported by the initiative include new community impact projects linking students to nonprofit organizations; a global information engagement program, which will send students to India to work on information challenges starting in 2014; and the Citizen Interaction Design project, which will develop a partnership between the School of Information and the city of Jackson, Mich. The Office of the Provost provided the funds for the global information engagement program, which Lawson said reflects the idea that the initiative will grow to be a University-wide effort. “It’s driven from students; it’s driven from faculty and from staff,” Lawson said. “We see the huge impact it has on the student experience and we have advocated for this expansion as well.” The initiative will also provide more support for the school’s Alternative Spring Break — one of its flagship programs. The program gives students the oppor-
tunity to work at public sector organizations over spring break and participation has risen from about 40 students to 130 students over the past few years. Some of the program’s funds will provide grants for students’ international internships, unpaid internships and student organizations focused on data and information-related projects. Students will begin receiving aid in time for the 2014 summer internship season. In describing the fund’s impact, Lawson highlighted A2DataDive, a student-led project that helps nonprofits handle their data. Founded by University alum Nikki Roda in 2011, the program has hosted two DataDive events, where students help teach nonprofits how to handle their data over the course of a weekend workshop. The program began receiving financial support through the program this year. Priya Kumar, an Information graduate student and co-leader of A2DataDive, said the program has allowed her to put her knowledge to work in the organization’s projects. “It’s kind of like you get to visualize and see what you’re learning in the classroom,” Kumar said. “That’s the most powerful element of doing the DataDive.”
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REFORM From Page 1A city’s zoning codes, which is at the core of our platform.” Perhaps the most important tenet of Brown’s campaign is the idea of implementing a policy of mixed-use zoning rather than the city’s current single-use zoning policy. This essentially means Brown and his party endorse the usage of city zones for more than simply one purpose — whether it be residential, commercial, etc. Brown hopes this type of policy will alleviate, if not solve, many of the city’s pressing issues. Brown argued that the government of Ann Arbor has been trying to control the use of certain zones for too long, and such a policy has been hurting the city rather than helping it in many instances. “Sometimes the best government solution is no government solution,” Brown said. “We need to give more flexibility and freedom to property owners and communities to address their own problems rather than the other way around, and I think that’s what Ann Arbor needs right now.” The issue of urban sprawl is especially important in Brown’s platform, as he believes the suburban, residential areas are becoming too far removed from more highly commercialized
Thursday, October 31, 2013 — 5A areas. He attributed many problems to sprawl, such as higher traffic, pedestrian safety and student discrimination. “If we really want to change this in the future, because zoning reform is not going to change these problems overnight including parking, we have to ensure that more people live in the city, and mixed-use zoning will allow this to happen,” Brown said. Brown also discussed the ways students are affected by zoning laws. He and many other Mixed Use Party candidates have said current zoning practices discriminate against students, particularly codes about fraternities, sororities and co-ops. He specifically noted his desire to abolish the part of the zoning code that forbids more than four students from living together in any single unit where one bathroom and kitchen is shared, calling the law “unproductive” and “backwards thinking.” “The code itself states how a functional family does include a fraternity, co-ops, or any kind of association that is considered temporary,” Brown said. “The law itself specifically mentions students, so the law was never meant for safety reasons. It was more or less a discriminatory law.” Another issue pertaining to students raised by Brown is that of consistency of punishment in cases of minors in possession of
alcohol. While he noted that Ann Arbor residents would not find such an issue pertinent, he noted that much of the city’s policies regarding illegal substances are inconsistent, specifically with regards to minors caught possessing alcohol versus possessing marijuana, as marijuana possession is treated as a civil infraction. He also noted that while he and Lumm may agree on some things, Lumm is not offering real reforms some of these issues. As a candidate, Brown said he has gotten a lot of positive feedback in his ward, and he noted that a lot of people are sympathetic to his party. “Conservatives love the fact that I don’t abide by tax increment financing,” he said. “Liberals love the fact that I want to create more affordable housing and make Ann Arbor a place where everyone can live.” Brown said he is not simply running because he thinks he can win, but he wants to bring a fresh perspective into city politics. “I’m fighting an uphill battle,” Brown said. “I didn’t run because I thought I could win handsdown. I ran because I wanted to bring real issues to the table and express the kind of voice that is needed in these debates because if we didn’t, we’d still have the same two type of status quo candidates bickering over the same issues without offering real substance.”
Boston Red Sox win World Series at Fenway Park Team defeats St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in game six BOSTON (AP) — Jubilant Red Sox fans took to the streets around Fenway Park to cheer their team’s World Series victory Wednesday night, the first time Boston has won baseball’s fall classic at home in 95 years. Fans chanted and caroused outside the ballpark and nearby bars after Boston vanquished the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Game 6. Several fans were seen giving high fives to police officers. “Words cannot describe how I feel,” said Sam D’Arrigo. “This is what being a Boston fan is all about.” An excited Boston Mayor Tom Menino tweeted: “Get the ducks ready, we’re having a parade.” The Red Sox have now won three World Series in a decade, but they hadn’t won at home since 1918. Police reported no significant problems immediately following the game but said they were ready for post-game celebrations and any unruly fans.
Throughout the night, the department tweeted cautionary messages, encouraging fans to “Celebrate with pride” and “Celebrate responsibly.” In St. Louis, fans were disappointed that the Cardinals lost. Many watched the game 1,200 miles away from the comfort of their couches. Some tourists favored the 26th-floor view of the Gateway Arch over the play-by-play of a third consecutive loss in a series that earlier looked like it could have ended at Busch Stadium after the Cardinals won two of the first three games. “It’s pretty quiet in here,” said Coltier Blakely of Mexico, Mo., who was in town for a statewide meeting of community college administrators. Earlier in Boston, President Barack Obama delivered a talk on his embattled health care reform. He departed Boston an hour before the game began. Police and bomb-sniffing dogs swept through Fenway as hundreds of fans gathered outside in the afternoon. Scores of officers stood outside the park, directing traffic, giving directions to fans and standing ready for what was likely to be a long night. Boston has hosted sever-
al celebrations over the last decade as the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox have all won titles since 2004, but some of the post-championship partying has caused problems. In 2004, a 21-year-old college student was killed by a pepper pellet fired by Boston police during crowd-control efforts following the Red Sox win in the American League Championship Series. In 2008, a 22-year-old man died after police took him into custody during street celebrations of the Celtics’ title. Chris LeBlanc of Glocester, R.I., skipped class last spring to watch the Red Sox’s season opener. On Wednesday he was at Fenway with his father Michael, hoping to score tickets. Despite a dismal 2012 season LeBlanc, 18, said he always felt good about the team’s chances this year. “I was optimistic,” he said. Michael LeBlanc, 45, shook his head and smiled. He remembers well the decades of disappointment, the talk of curses and the blown chances. He knows what a treat it is to have a shot at three World Series wins in a decade. “He doesn’t know how good he has it,” he said.
United States assures U.N. that communications are not tapped German magazine claims body was previously wiretapped UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations said Wednesday it has received assurances from the U.S. government that U.N. communications networks “are not and will not be monitored” by American intelligence agencies. But chief U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky would not comment on whether the world body had been monitored in the past, as reported recently by the German magazine Der Spiegel. Nesirky said the United Nations had been in contact with Washington about the reports that surfaced two months ago and has received a U.S. guarantee of no current or future eavesdropping. “Back in August when these reports first surfaced, we said we would be in touch with the relevant authorities,” he said. “And I can tell you that we
were indeed in touch with the U.S. authorities. I understand that the U.S. authorities have given assurance that the United Nations communications are not and will not be monitored.” Nesirky would not elaborate on whether spying had taken place and declined to answer related questions. For emphasis, he held up a piece of paper that said: “No comment.” A U.S. official told The Associated Press that “The United States is not conducting electronic surveillance targeting the United Nations headquarters in New York.” The official, who was not authorized to be named, spoke on condition of anonymity. It was not clear whether foreign U.N. missions in New York could be monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies. Former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, who held the post at the United Nations from 2005-2006, would not comment on “what may or may not have gone on in the past” because he’s no longer in government. “That said, it seems to me that the United Nations and
everybody walking through the U.N. building are perfectly legitimate intelligence targets, and I think any decision by any president to say we are not going to eavesdrop on U.N. headquarters is a mistake,” he told the AP. “There’s nothing in the U.S. Constitution that says you may not eavesdrop on the U.N.,” Bolton said. “Silence and a deeply emphasized ‘No comment’ is how you should deal with all these intelligence questions.” Der Spiegel reported that documents it obtained from U.S. leaker Edward Snowden show the National Security Agency secretly monitored the U.N.’s internal video conferencing system by decrypting it last year. Der Spiegel quoted an NSA document as saying that within three weeks, the number of decoded communications had increased from 12 to 458. Der Spiegel also reported that the NSA installed bugs in the European Union’s office building in Washington and infiltrated the EU’s computer network.
News
6A — Thursday, October 31, 2013
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Six shot dead in South Carolina custody fight Shooter kills girlfriend, her parents, two children and himself
JOSEPH KAY/AP
A Congolese army soldier responds to cheers from civilians as the army enters the town of Bunagana, eastern Congo, near the border with Uganda Wednesday.
Congolese army retakes M23 rebel stronghold Rebellion nears end as government forces roll back rebels BUNAGANA, Congo (AP) — The Congolese army retook one of the last remaining strongholds of the M23 rebels Wednesday, with fighters running for the hills as the military sought to extinguish the 18-month-old insurrection, officials said. As the army retook the town of Bunagana, leaving the M23 with a small sliver of territory, the civilian leader of the rebel movement fled Congo, crossing the border into Uganda and prompting calls for his extradition. The recapture of Bunagana comes just days after the U.N. special representative said: “We are witnessing the military end of the M23.” In an address to the nation late Wednesday, Congolese President Joseph Kabila warned the remaining members of the M23 to turn themselves in, saying: “I reiterate my call to the members of this armed group who have just been flushed out of our territory ... to demobilize themselves voluntarily,” Kabila said. “Failure to do so will leave us with no
option but to force them to do by force.” An Associated Press reporter who accompanied the Congolese troops as they took Bunagana saw the soldiers fan out as they entered the town in order to do house-to-house searches. M23 fighters could be seen running away up a hill. Small skirmishes, however, continued and the government finally secured control of the town by midday, army spokesman Lt. Col. Olivier Hamuli said by telephone to The Associated Press. “We are now securing the city after the rebels fled,” he said. “We have found a lot of weapons that they abandoned here. Their political leaders have crossed the border and about 40 fighters are headed toward Runyonyi and we are tracking them down.” M23 political head Bertrand Bisimwa was among those who crossed into Uganda and headed toward the capital of Kampala, officials in both countries said. Congo called for him to be returned home amid reports he left the country in vehicles that stolen during M23’s siege of Goma one year ago, the provincial capital of eastern Congo whose fall to the rebels marked one of the most humiliating defeats for the Congolese military, whose soldiers were seen running away from the front
line. The events of the last few days mark a stunning turnaround for the Congolese troops, who have long been plagued by indiscipline and corruption among their ranks, making them no match for groups like M23, which until recently was allegedly backed by neighboring Rwanda. M23 launched its movement in April 2012, becoming the latest reincarnation of an ethnic Tutsi rebel group dissatisfied with the Congolese government. Neighboring Rwanda, whose president is also an ethnic Tutsi, provided weapons, recruits and training to the M23, according to a report by U.N experts. Rwanda’s government denies the allegations, saying Congo’s government has failed to police its territory. The group has been substantially weakened in the past year by internal divisions and waning Rwandan support, according to the U.N. Defections from the M23 are up this month, totaling 80 in October. Thirty-three surrendered alone on Tuesday, according to chief U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky. The Congolese military has capitalized on these rebel setbacks by pushing ahead with new offensives beginning in August that have been supported by a specially created United Nations Intervention Brigade.
Classifieds RELEASE DATE– Thursday, October 31, 2013
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) — Bryan Sweatt was in the middle of a custody fight with his girlfriend over their 7-month-old daughter and facing a burglary charge that could put him in jail for years. His girlfriend’s father had warned him to stay away from his house and the dirt track Sweatt had built in the backyard for his all-terrain vehicles. Then on Tuesday afternoon, Sweatt broke into the parents’ house and waited for them and the girlfriend to come home, police said. When they did, Sweatt fatally shot his girlfriend, her parents and two children living there, before turning the gun on himself, Greenwood County Sheriff Tony Davis said.
Utah man accused of inducing his wife’s heart attack to be with lover PROVO, Utah (AP) — Another mistress of a former Utah doctor accused of killing his wife testified Wednesday that he had once described how he could induce a heart attack in someone that would appear natural. Anna Walthall took the witness stand and said she began a six-month affair with defendant Martin MacNeill in 2005 when he was a consulting doctor at a laser hair removal clinic that she operated. MacNeill described the heart attack method during “pillow talk,” she said. Walthall quoted MacNeill as
HELP WANTED
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DOWN 1 Festoons with certain tissue, for short 2 Give courage to 3 Swathes 4 Attempt 5 Spine-tingling 6 Baby carriers 7 Hunter’s garb, for short 8 Clearing 9 A.L. Rookie of the Year after Tommie Agee 10 Rights protection gp. 11 Has a date 12 On the way 13 With 44-Down, setting for 20-, 35- and 54Across 19 TV’s Oz and Gupta 21 Barstool topper 22 Yellowfin tuna 27 Like no-nonsense questions 29 “When You Wish Upon __” 30 Big name in games
32 Bygone Delta rival 34 “Illmatic” rapper 36 Cajun crawfish dish 37 Went on and on 38 In a manner of speaking 39 Ready to go forward 41 Blocks 42 Attack with profanity
43 That, in Tabasco 44 See 13-Down 46 Before, to a bard 47 Offset, as costs 50 It may be gross 52 “The L Word” producer Chaiken 55 Woody Allen’s “Radio __” 56 Science fiction prize 57 Collector’s suffix 60 D.C. United’s org.
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dispatcher heard a woman in the background say: “Do not point that at me” before the call was disconnected. Sweatt allowed four children to escape — his 7-month-old daughter, the infant’s cousin and two neighborhood children who came to the door after school to play with the Fields’ grandchildren. No one knows why Sweatt let them live and shot the others, Davis said. “I cannot tell you at this point that I have all the answers for you,” he said. While they’re still searching for clues, one thing is clear: Sweatt’s life was spinning out of control. Sweatt has a lengthy arrest record that dates back nearly a decade, according to state police records. Most of his charges were related to property crimes, such as burglary or forgery, although he was arrested once on aggravated assault charges.
Second mistress in doctor’s murder trial takes the stand
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“Once you see a horrific scene like this it never leaves you. It’s with you day in and day out,” he said. The victims were identified as Richard Fields, 51; his wife, Melissa Fields, 49; their daughter Chandra Fields, 26; and two of the couple’s grandchildren who lived with them: William Robinson, 9; and Tariq Robinson, 11. Davis didn’t specify a motive for the shootings, but said it appears they stemmed from a “domestic violence situation.” He said Sweatt felt that Chandra Fields wasn’t allowing him to see their infant child often enough. The girl was not among the dead. He said that Sweatt had called 911 while he was in the Fields’ house, stating that he was on the edge and contemplating suicide, before hanging up. It’s unclear how many — if any — victims had been shot before he made the call at 5:54 p.m. Tuesday. A police report said a
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saying, “ ‘There’s something you can give someone that’s natural that’s a heart attack that’s not detectable after they have a heart attack.’” No cause of death has been determined for Michele MacNeill. Defense lawyers have argued that she had a heart attack and fell into a bathtub in April 2007 in the family home in Pleasant Grove, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City. Defense lawyers challenged Walthall by getting her to acknowledge she had been diagnosed with what was formerly called multiple personality disorder, but she insisted she was giving a true account of Martin MacNeill’s statement. Earlier in the day, two daughters of the MacNeills testified that their father had hired another mistress, Gypsy Willis,
as a nanny soon after his wife died, but Willis did not cook or take care of the children and went to their father’s bedroom at night. Sabrina MacNeill, 19, testified that Willis didn’t do anything a nanny would be expected to do. “She made spaghetti once, and that was the only time she cooked,” said Sabrina MacNeill. “She didn’t do anything.” Another daughter, Alexis Somers, testified that Willis would come and go throughout the day, seemingly more focused on the doctor than the children. Prosecutors say Martin MacNeill, 57, hounded his wife, Michele MacNeill, to get cosmetic surgery then knocked her out with painkillers and left her to die in a bathtub. His motive, they said, was to get rid of his wife so he could be with Willis.
European leaders threaten U.S. trade in wake of spying Revelations of surveillance of E.U. officials “shatters” trust in negotiations BRUSSELS (AP) — The backlash in Europe over U.S. spying is threatening an agreement that generates tens of billions of dollars in trans-Atlantic business every year — and negotiations on another pact worth many times more. A growing number of European officials are calling for the suspension of the “Safe Harbor” agreement that lets U.S. companies process commercial and personal data — sales, emails, photos — from customers in Europe. This little-known but vital deal allows more than 4,200 American companies to do business in Europe, including Internet giants like Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon. Revelations of the extent of U.S. spying on its European allies is also threatening to undermine one of President Barack Obama’s top transAtlantic goals: a sweeping freetrade agreement that would add an estimated $138 billion (100 billion euros) a year to each economy’s gross domestic product. Top EU officials say the trust needed for the negotiations has been shattered. “For ambitious and complex negotiations to succeed, there needs to be trust among the negotiating partners,” EU Justice Commissioner Viviane
Reding said Wednesday in a speech at Yale University. At the very least, the Europeans are expected to demand that the U.S. significantly strengthen its privacy laws to give consumers much more control over how companies use their personal data — and extend those rights to European citizens, maybe even giving them the right to sue American companies in U.S. courts. The Europeans had long been pressing these issues with the Americans. But since former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden began to leak surprising details on the extent of U.S. surveillance in Europe, the European demands have grown teeth. “I don’t think the U.S. government can be convinced by arguments or outrage alone, but by making it clear that American interests will suffer if this global surveillance is simply continued,” said Peter Schaar, the head of Germany’s data protection watchdog. One sanction the European Union could slap on the U.S. would be to suspend the Safe Harbor deal, which allows American businesses to store and process their data where they want. It aims to ensure that European customers’ data are just as safe as in Europe when handled in the U.S. “But if you look at the U.S. legal environment, there is no adequate legal protection for EU citizens,” said the European Parliament’s leading data protection lawmaker Jan Philipp Albrecht after talks with U.S. officials in Washington.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Sports
Thursday, October 31, 2013 — 7A
Run effort may be futile By ZACH HELFAND
‘M’ falls to Akron after flat first half
Daily Sports Editor
By MICHAEL PISCIOTTA To beat Michigan State, history dictates Michigan has to win the running game. But this year’s results suggest that might be futile. To beat Michigan State, the popular narrative in the media says the Wolverines must be the more physical team. But offensive style could demand finesse and speed. The Spartans’ defense requires Michigan take special care to avoid turnovers. But the Wolverines’ best offensive weapons are on the outside. By Michigan coach Brady Hoke’s own reckoning, Michigan is still searching for an identity. Heading into a week with major Legends Division implications, it faces a series of choices about what kind of team it seeks to be. Does it run, despite limited production in the ground game? Can it be a spread team and physical at the same time? Will the threat of turnovers turn Michigan squeamish in the passing game? All week, players spoke of the rivalry’s physicality and nastiness. Part of it is pride. Michigan feels as if it were bullied by Michigan State in East Lansing two years ago. It doesn’t just want to run, it wants to dominate on the ground. “This is Michigan,” said fifthyear senior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint. “We’re not gonna go out there, we’re not gonna get punked by nobody. We’re going to stand up, and we’re gonna hit them in the mouth. That simple.” Michigan is probably justified in emphasizing the ground game: In 40 of the past 43 matchups between Michigan and Michigan State, the team that won the rushing battle won the game. “I saw that somewhere,” Hoke said. “But there’s also years when
Daily Sports Writer
PATRICK BARRON/Daily
Fifth-year senior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint had his biggest game of the season against Indiana, scoring four times.
it hasn’t, so you have to do what’s best for you as a team when you think you can have success.” Most of the time, though, a heroic effort was required to win despite trailing on the ground. The last time it happened, in 2004, Braylon Edwards bailed out a running game that was outrushed 368 to 223. Then, he made two highlight-reel catches in the fourth quarter to help erase a 17-point deficit in less than six minutes. In overtime, he caught a third. Barring a major turnaround on the interior of the line, Michigan may have to find a way to win other than on the ground. The Wolverines are 75th in the nation in rushing yards per attempt, and they have shuffled linemen for much of the year. This week, freshman Kyle Bosch and redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson will both start at guard. Toussaint has eclipsed 100 yards just once this season. And the Spartans rank first in the nation in rushing defense — by a wide margin — with less than 55 yards per game. “Oh, it’s a huge test,” said offensive coordinator Al Borges. In two years under Hoke and
Borges, Michigan State has limited Michigan to just 26 points. Borges identified two keys to beating the Michigan State offense. One, he said, was giving “your skill guys a chance to do what they do best, whether it be in the open field or around the line of scrimmage. “If you’re getting hit in the backfield as soon as you hand the ball off, you’re not going anywhere. And they’ve done a lot of that.” Borges has shown a willingness to let the inside running game develop. Last week, he said he considers his offense a downhill running team with spread elements. But when Michigan’s offense has been most explosive — in wins over Notre Dame and Indiana — it has spread the field and attacked the edge. That would avoid Michigan State’s signature A-gap blitzes, which wreak havoc on opposing offenses in the middle. But that would also require a shift in philosophy. Borges says his coaching history shows that some years he runs more and some years he passes more. The deciding factor is: who are his personnel?
“I said this before, I think good offenses are the perfect mix of finesse and physicality,” Borges said. But he said he gets excited at the physicality. And he still wants to run. “As a competitor, as a human being, I love these games,” Borges said. “I love it. This is why I coach.” Now, Michigan’s personnel seem to suggest pass. Since Michigan has shifted sophomore tight end Devin Funchess to split end, Michigan’s passing game has flourished. Last game, against Indiana, redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner set the Michigan record for passing yards. But Michigan State has a stout secondary. Cornerback Darqueze Dennard, Hoke said, “is a high-round pick.” Plus, the Spartans have propensity for scoring off turnovers, and Gardner has shown a propensity for giving the ball away. Saturday, then, should provide a look at what kind of team Michigan will be for the rest of the Big Ten season. If it doesn’t find the absent running game early, it must adapt quickly, or it could be a long game for the offense.
Another Akron chapter added By JOHN KOPKO For the Daily
The last time the Michigan men’s soccer team clashed with Akron, in 2012, a trip to the third round of the NCAA Tournament was on the line. The Zips were undefeated on their home turf, and the Wolverines had won six of their last seven. Then, Michigan’s Colin McAtee was shown a red card after kicking Akron’s Robbie Derschang in the head. The Zips took a two-goal lead and held off a late charge by the Wolverines to send the visitors back to Ann Arbor empty handed. The last time Akron came to Ann Arbor, in 2011, it was ranked fourth in the nation. Michigan midfielder Latif Alashe scored a stunning overtime goal to shock to Zips and propel the Wolverines to a 1-0 victory. The recent history between the teams has developed into nothing less than a rivalry. “For sure, it is 100 percent (a rivalry). This isn’t a rivalry like Ohio State and Michigan State,” said junior captain Tyler Arnone. “This is a respectful rivalry (because) we know two good teams are going toe-to-toe with each other.” The setting was similar on Wednesday — a calm, clear night in Ann Arbor. Michigan (3-2-0 Big Ten, 7-4-3 overall) came into the game riding a three-game home win streak. Meanwhile, No. 17 Akron (4-1-0 Mid-American Conference, 11-3-1) was undefeated in its last five contests. Both teams fielded freshmen who did not take part in the tournament showdown the previous season, or the stunning upset the year before that. But fresh faces didn’t help the Wolverines, and for the second meeting in a row, Akron defeated Michigan, 2-1. The Zips’ offense started the game fast, displaying well-timed runs and well-placed crosses. In the fifth minute, Akron freshman midfielder Adam Najem found
Coming off its first threegame win streak of the year, the Michigan men’s soccer team looked to avenge last year’s second-round NCAA Tournament loss 2 AKRON to Akron. 1 MICHIGAN With high hopes of beating another national powerhouse, Michigan fell flat. Despite an inspired secondhalf performance, the Wolverines couldn’t overcome a two-goal, first-half deficit in their 2-1 defeat to the Zips on Wednesday evening. “The first half, we came out flat,” said redshirt junior Tyler Arnone. “We didn’t have a great warm-up.” From the start, Akron’s attack looked potent. In the fifth minute, following a loss of possession in the midfield by the Wolverines, the ball was passed to Zips midfielder Adam Najem, who ripped a shot off the crossbar. Ten minutes later, a sliding shot by Akron midfielder Robbie Derschang almost put Akron ahead, but it narrowly went wide. The breakthrough for Akron came in the 23rd minute, through Derschang. A cross from defender Saad AbdulSalaam found the foot of midfielder Matt Foldesy, who played the ball across the goal. The cross was deflected by a Wolverine defender into the path of Derschang, who slotted the ball into the back of the net. In the 30th minute, the Zips doubled their lead after a lapse by the Michigan defense. Akron’s sustained pressure caused a mishit clearance by a Wolverines defender that fell nicely to Derschang. He volleyed the loose ball from 18 yards out into the bottom-right corner past Michigan redshirt junior goalkeeper Adam Grinwis. “It was a disgrace,” Arnone said. “To let up a goal that easy, there is no excuse.” The Zips clearly dominated play for most of the opening 45 minutes as they kept the majority of the possession and outshot Michigan, 13-3. Precise long passes and clever runs by the Akron forwards created multiple scoring opportunities and caused problems for the Wolverine back line. The teams combined for 26 fouls, and five yellow cards were handed out. In the 66th minute, emotions got the best of
redshirt sophomore midfielder Colin McAtee, who instigated a skirmish that led to a verbal confrontation between senior midfielder Dylan Mencia and the Zips’ forwards. “We started really slow, and they didn’t,” said Michigan coach Chaka Daley. “They were really bright, and that led to us conceding two goals.” With time running down in the first half, the Wolverines got back in the game through senior defender Ezekiel Harris. Following a foul by the Zips, Arnone whipped a long free kick to freshman forward Yamann Sahlool, who chested down the ball to Harris. He pounced on the loose ball and lashed a shot into the back of the net to cut the Akron lead to one. Inspired by the late goal by Harris, Michigan created quality scoring chances through shots from redshirt sophomore midfielder Colin McAtee and senior midfielder Fabio Pereira. Michigan’s efforts were for naught, though, as it couldn’t break down the Zips’ back line. As the game progressed, the Wolverines’ back line began to improve, as did the play of Grinwis, who made two brilliant saves to keep Michigan in the game. Akron was forced into difficult situations and prevented from creating easy scoring opportunities. With time winding down, the Wolverines switched to a three-back formation and pushed multiple players forward in attack. This switch led to a more dominant Michigan attack that looked poised to score an equalizer. In the 84th minute, the Wolverines almost scored the goal they desperately needed. Junior midfielder TJ VanSlooten, who had just entered as a sub, gathered a cross from the right flank and shot the ball toward goal. His effort was cleared off the line by the Zips’ defense, leading to a corner for Michigan. The ensuing corner was whipped in by Arnone, and it met the head of McAtee. It seemed like an easy goal as the ball lofted over Akron goalkeeper Fernando Pina, but it hit the crossbar and the opportunity was lost. Then, in the 90th minute, Pina slipped while clearing the ball, and it landed at the feet of sophomore forward James Murphy. With Pina off his line, Murphy tried to chip it into the back of the net, but the ball was straight at Pina. “We had some great chances,” Daley said “But we didn’t take care of them.”
“...We came out flat. We didn’t have a great warm-up.”
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Senior midfielder Fabio Pereira led Michigan in shots on goal on Wednesday, with two.
space outside the box and curled a shot over the fingertips of the Wolverines keeper, redshirt junior Adam Grinwis, rattling off the crossbar and bouncing away. For Michigan the score line was eerily similar to last year’s loss in the NCAA Tournament — a physical battle, a relentless Akron attack and a commanding performance by the Zips. “If you look at MichiganAkron in the past five or six years, the games weren’t really even close with regards to quality of play,” said Michigan coach Chaka Daley. “Last year, they dominated us.” The Michigan offense finally kicked into gear only in the closing minutes of the first half. With 33 seconds left, senior defender Ezekiel Harris collected a loose ball at the top of the box following a set piece and drove a low volley into the corner of the net to bring the Wolverines within a goal. The second half brought out a rejuvenated Wolverine offense. In the first 10 minutes, Michigan put pressure on the Zips’ defense.
Aggressive play generated three quick shots and a corner, but the Wolverines failed to capitalize on their chances. As the clock ticked away, most of the possession for both teams came in the middle third of the field. The teams swapped shots and scoring opportunities, but good defending and goalkeeper play kept the score at 2-1. The physicality of the rivalry continued to heat up as Michigan desperately searched for an equalizer. In the 77th minute, McAtee went hard into a tackle and knocked Najem to the turf. In a scene similar to last season’s meeting, McAtee was shown a card and players on both sides had to be restrained as words were exchanged. Less than two minutes later, Akron defenseman Saad Abdul-Salaam was shown a card for bringing down a Michigan defender. With less than 10 minutes to play in the half, the Wolverine attack began to pressure the Zips’ back line again. In the 85th minute, McAtee got his head
on a cross and directed the ball toward an open goal. The ball clipped the bottom of the crossbar and was cleared away by the Akron defense. The Wolverines still would not go away. In the 90th minute, the Akron goalkeeper slipped as he attempted a clearance, and the ball skipped right to Michigan’s leading scorer, James Murphy. Murphy fired a shot, but his attempt was weak and the Zips’ keeper caught the ball to seal the Wolverines fate. “Even though we came out on the wrong side of the result tonight, I still felt it was a good game,” Arnone said. To Daley, the growing history between the two soccer programs signifies the level of play that Michigan soccer wants to be at. “We’re aspiring to be on (Akron’s) level on a consistent basis. They put it all together for longer stretches than we did,” Daley said. “That’s part of their culture, and that’s the culture we’re trying to create here amongst Michigan soccer.”
JAMES COLLER/Daily
Senior defender Ezekiel Harris scored Michigan’s only goal of the night.
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Thursday, October 31, 2013 — 8A
5 Things We Learned
FOOTBALL
Bosch to be tested By MATT SLOVIN
By SIMON KAUFMAN Daily Sports Writer
1. Nik Stauskas still shoots better than he dances. After the Michigan players are announced pregame, they circle up and get pumped. On Tuesday night before the game against Concordia, sophomore guard Nik Stauskas had the honor of being the rah-rah guy in the middle of all of them. He shared some inspiring words and then went into his best lean-back-brush-thedirt-off-the-shoulders dance. In the middle of the circle, he looked unpracticed and unconfident. On the court though, he looked much the opposite. Stauskas scored the Wolverines’ first points of the season after sinking two shots from the free-throw line a minute into the game. He went 2-for-3 from behind the arc and had 12 firsthalf points before Concordia scored 10. The sophomore finished with 23 points on the night. Stauskas said he didn’t know he would be the man in the middle of the circle until just seconds before and admitted his pregame performance was “weak.” But if he puts the same amount of work into his pregame dance that he has into his shooting, he’ll be one of the best dual-threat guards in the country. 2. Too early to compare Trey Burke and Derek Walton Jr.? Maybe not. At Michigan Media Day last week, freshman guard Derrick Walton talked about not trying to replace Trey Burke. He said he wants to be true to himself and play his own game. He might not be trying to replace Michigan’s last point guard, but luckily for Walton, his game looks a lot like Burke’s.
After nailing a 3-pointer with 7:13 left in the first half for the first points of his college career, he came back down the floor and knocked down a mid-range jumper. Then he did his best Burke impression — stealing the ball at half court and finishing a layup at the other end. “I sat at home a couple of times and watched him just play guys at half court,” Walton said. Perhaps Burke’s style has influenced him more than he knows. In a span of 39 seconds, the former four-star recruit scored seven points and introduced himself to a team eager to meet a new point guard.
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3. The point-guard position is still up in the air. If you were looking for the answer as to who would be this team’s starting point guard, keep looking. Sophomore Spike Albrecht started, but Walton replaced him less than four minutes into the game and the two traded off time all night. Walton logged 24 minutes compared to Albrecht’s 21 minutes. And Beilein is leaving his options open: he didn’t rule out sophomore guard Caris LeVert from getting minutes at point guard, either. “If we can put three point guards out there at one time, it would be really good,” Beilein said. “I think all our guys have a point-guard mentality. We give them reps so that they can work.” Expect Albrecht to get the starts at the beginning of the season while Walton becomes more comfortable in the system. But Albrecht’s 17-point performance in the championship game last season won’t be enough to lock him in as Michigan’s point guard all season. He’ll need to prove he can consistently generate offense on the court; otherwise he’ll
TODD NEEDLE/Daily
Sophomore guard Caris LeVert scored 16 points in 21 minutes on Tuesday.
quickly find himself coming off the bench for Walton. 4. Caris LeVert-icle is not a freshman anymore. Add six months since April and four letters to sophomore guard Caris LeVert’s last name and you have the most improved player on Michigan’s team. With time expiring at the end of the first half, he ran up on a fast break, caught a pass from Stauskas and finished with a loud dunk — and like that, Levert turned legit. LeVert, who averaged 2.3 points per game in 10.8 minutes last season, proved to last year’s critics that he knew he had more potential. He went a perfect 6-for-6 from within the arc, putting up 16 points in 21 minutes. Most impressive though, he helped create offense with his 10 assists. Michigan coach John Beilein calls LeVert his defensive quarterback, and the guard did help in
the backcourt with three steals. His ability to be a threat on both ends of the court will make it hard for Beilein to limit his minutes. 5. It’s too early to start thinking Arlington. Yes, Michigan dominated in its first showing, but don’t book your flight to Arlington, Texas, for the Final Four any time soon. The Wolverines weren’t playing a low-level Division-I team — they were up against an NAIA team. Concordia’s roster features just three players taller than 6-foot-6 — four of Michigan’s starting five were that height or taller. It’s easy to get caught up in the lopsided score and highlight-reel dunks that Michigan had, especially after a magical run last year. But this exhibition game was just that, an exhibition, and one against much weaker talent. This team has the talent to go deep in the tournament again this year, but it still has much to prove over the next five months.
If Saturday’s game at Michigan State will indeed be the Michigan football team’s most physical of the season, it’s only fitting that Kyle Bosch be on the offensive line for it. “You never have to worry about him liking contact and him being aggressive,” said Greg Purnell, Bosch’s former high-school coach at Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis, in a phone interview with the Daily on Wednesday. “The fact that he’s been aggressive all his life I’m sure has helped.” Earlier this week in practice, redshirt junior linebacker Jake Ryan learned just how strong the freshman’s feisty side is. Bosch found himself in a scuffle with Ryan, one of the leaders of the defense, and fifth-year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan needed to intervene. “It was just practice,” Ryan said Monday when asked about the incident. “Bosch is a great player. He stepped up the last game for us. It was practice. We got into it. It’s over. We’re friends again.” The fact that Bosch took it upon himself to get into it with one of the team captains isn’t surprising to Purnell in the least. He recalls a practice during Bosch’s junior year when he ended up in a similar scuffle — “It wasn’t a fight, but it could’ve led to that,” Purnell recalled. What is a surprise to Purnell is that Bosch is listed as Michigan’s starter at guard entering Saturday’s battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Perhaps that says more about the Wolverines’ lack of depth at the offensive line positions than Bosch’s first-year progress, but coach Brady Hoke certainly has enough trust in the 6-foot-5, 302pound Bosch to insert him into a very hostile environment in East
Lansing. “I like Bosch,” Hoke said in his Wednesday press conference. “You grow up sometime. But yeah, it’ll be intense. But I know one thing about Bosch: He’s a pretty tough guy.” That toughness showed up in Bosch’s first career game, against Indiana, when he was a part of an improved Wolverines offensive line. Needless to say, facing the Spartan defense is another matter entirely, but it’s a task Hoke thinks the line will be ready for. But redshirt freshman Erik Magnuson will also be lining up at guard again, and that youth could be a liability in a rivalry game, especially one on the road. “I think with (Bosch and Magnuson), the good thing is, there’s nine other guys out there with them,” Hoke said. “Believe me, there’s other guys who will be out there for the first time with more significant roles.” Purnell compared Bosch playing against Michigan State this weekend to games he played against rival Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic in high school. Montini Catholic has won four consecutive state titles and beat Bosch’s St. Francis team each year he was there, but that doesn’t mean Bosch didn’t show up in those games. “He played very well in those games,” Purnell recalled. “Kyle feels very badly we never beat them during his tenure.” But Bosch has a chance Saturday to beat a rival his first time playing in the game. That’s an opportunity he won’t take lightly. “He’s mean,” Lewan, the peacekeeper, said Monday. “He might not know every call. But I know, when I was on the field my freshman year, I was going 100 percent trying to take somebody out every single play. ... Bosch has that same thing about him. I’m excited about him.”
Racine returns to practice; freshman line jells nicely By JEREMY SUMMITT Daily Sports Editor
Sophomore goaltender Steve Racine returned to practice Monday after missing three games with a groin injury. Racine was forced to leave Michigan’s game at New Hampshire on Oct. 18 in the third period and hasn’t NOTEBOOK played since. After evaluating Racine’s progress this week, Michigan coach Red Berenson said freshman goaltender Zach Navegvoort will likely be the starter this weekend, but he will wait until after Thursday’s practice to determine whether Racine will see time when Michigan Tech comes to town Friday. “(Racine’s) getting better every day,” Berenson said. “I was worried he might be sore today after (Monday’s) skate, but not so much.” Meanwhile, Nagelvoort has filled in admirably the past three games. The back-up goalie has posted an impressive 1.47 goalsagainst average in four games against Hockey East opponents. With a bye next weekend, Berenson mentioned it might make more sense to allow Racine to rest this weekend and that he would be reluctant to rush him back. And with Nagelvoort’s consistency in net thus far, this serves as a safe bet, even against a strong Michigan Tech team. FRESHMAN TRIO MAKING AN IMPACT: Just five games into the season, Berenson has pieced together an all-freshmen line that has already done serious damage. The trio of Tyler Motte, JT Compher and Evan Allen has combined for 11 points — six goals and five assists — to provide a much-needed boost for the Wolverines. Allen started the season on the fourth line but was moved up on Nov. 19 at New Hampshire to replicate the chemistry between the three youngsters from when they played with the U.S. National Team Development Program
PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Sophomore goaltender Steve Racine has missed three games with a groin injury.
last season. “We’re all the same age, and we’ve all been together for a few years,” Allen said. “Me and Tyler have been together before that, so I think we have a lot in common on the ice and off the ice.” The NTDP plays across the country against top Division I opponents every season, making the program a recruiting hotbed for college coaches. Before the season, Berenson and his assistants hoped the trio could fill the production void left by former Wolverines Jacob Trouba and Jon Merrill. They have done so thus far, and the reassurance these freshmen have provided has made coaching worthwhile for Berenson. “Part of the reason I’m still coaching is I look forward to seeing the players we’ve recruited finally get here and see what they can do on the ice,” Berenson said. “These players have lived up to their early season expectations.” PEARSON RETURNS TO YOST: Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson, a former Michigan
assistant under Berenson for 23 years, will make his first trip back to Ann Arbor this weekend after taking a position as head coach of the Huskies after the 2010-11 season. In those two years, Pearson has led Michigan Tech to its second-best two-season stretch in program history with 29 total wins. Perhaps none of those wins were more meaningful than shutting out Michigan in the 2011 Great Lakes Invitational, when the Huskies went on to win their first GLI title since 1981. For Berenson and Pearson, it will be a battle between teacher and student. For the Wolverine seniors, it will be a shot to beat the coach that recruited some of them to Michigan. There will be mixed emotions on both benches come Friday night. “He was a really, really good coach,” said senior captain Mac Bennett. “He was someone I looked forward to practicing with. It’s kind of strange (seeing him on the other bench), because he was here when I got here.”
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The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | Thursday, October 31, 2013
BEHIND THE
SCREAMS By Akshay Seth, Daily B-Side Editor
See SCREAMS, Page 4B DESIGN BY GABY VASQUEZ
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GOSSIP COLUMN
Throwing shade at female celebrity feuds S
he said what? Ruhroh. Looks like Kelly Osbourne just called Lady Gaga a hypocrite! That’s right. It’s the reigning queen of pop versus one of the “Fashion Police.” Get ready for an all-out Twitter feud, LENA folks! FINKEL OK. All jokes aside, I generally don’t have any beef with Kelly Osbourne. She’s witty, outspoken (clearly) and has overcome a lot of criticism (particularly about her weight). But, I definitely do have a probably with her throwing shade at Lady Gaga. And it’s not just her that I’m concerned about. It seems like girl-on-girl feuds are getting out of control these days. Think Lorde vs. Selena Gomez, Miley vs. Sinead O’Connor, Taylor Swift vs. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Kelly Osbourne vs. Christina Aguilera: The list of catfights goes on for miles and has surely amplified in recent years, perhaps as a result of Twitter. Of course, there are male vs. male feuds as well (Kanye vs. Jimmy Kimmel, most recently), but female fighting always seems to be much, much louder. And honestly, this shouldn’t surprise anyone. Especially in the maledominated music industry, there are only so many spots at the top for a woman. In the current iTunes top 25 singles, only seven of the songs are by females (Lady Gaga with two, Katy Perry with three and Lorde and Miley with
one each). The rest of the top charters are all by men. With such limited room for success, it’s no wonder all the ladies feel like they have to fight their way to the top. In a world where opportunities for women to truly achieve are limited, talented women are forced to compete fiercely against one another and rip at each other’s throats. But it’s for exactly this reason that we need to refrain from all this smack talk. It’s hard enough to make it in this industry and to remain respected as a professional woman. It’s either you’re showing too much skin, you’re not showing enough skin, you’re this, you’re that or the other. There’s enough criticism about female musicians, and woman celebrities in general, that we definitely don’t need celebri-
Why didn’t you just buy the cake, Lady Gaga? ties themselves fueling the fire. It certainly doesn’t help, however, that the media tends to blow things way out of proportion. The second that Nicki Minaj said anything about Mariah Carey it was immediately a “blast,” and when Charo commented on Sophia Vergera, it was dubbed a “slam” (OK, but what Charo said was actually pretty bad — calling someone “diarrhea” is seriously harsh). Lorde said it best when she claimed, “I think there’s a
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Daily Arts Writers dig through recent YouTube releases to find the videos worth revisiting or discovering.
funny culture in music that’s only happened over the last 15 years, that if you have an opinion about something in music that isn’t 100-percent good, you’re a ‘hater.’ Even if you have perfectly reasonable grounds for that critique.” While everything that Lorde just said is true, she doesn’t have any business openly “critiquing” anybody. She can’t control the tabloid’s headlines, she can’t control how the media is going to spin the story, but she can certainly control what comes out of her mouth. I understand that by calling out Selena (she claimed Selena Gomez’s lyrics weren’t doing women any favors), she was trying to take a stand for feminism. But publicly putting down your female peers is not the way to do it. By openly critiquing other women, female artists are taking away from each other’s credibility and hurting one another’s chances at gaining respect in an already tough industry. Listen, I’m not saying that young female celebrities shouldn’t express their opinions, because they absolutely should. They are perfectly welcome to discuss their views on sexism in the industry, the Middle East or anything else they like. Just not when their words put down other female artists. Ladies, you don’t need to step on the backs of your friends to get to the top. So, please, Kelly Osbourne. Next time you want to “throw some shade” at Lady Gaga for not sending you a birthday cake, just think twice.
THUG NOTES
DISNEY
Frankenstein Summary and Analysis by Thug Notes
Honest Trailers Thor
If you ever get bored of reading Spark Notes, tune into Thug Notes and let Sparky Sweets, PhD, deliver the funniest (and surprisingly insightful) literary analyses you won’t find in an English Class. Thanks to Thug Notes, you can now have an excuse to put off writing your English assignment and watch funny YouTube videos. This week, Sparky Sweets celebrates Halloween with Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and like all of his videos, its awesome!
Screen Junkies has a lot of videos, but they’re best known for their hysterical and brutal Honest Trailers. This is a series of re-made trailers that tell you the truth about a movie, no matter how hard that truth might be. The most recent one: an honest trailer for “Thor” (or “Thor’s Obligatory Movie” as the honest trailer refers to it) is no different, delivering plenty of laughs and zero mercy.
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CHRIS HADFIELD
Finkel is feuding with feuds. To break it up, email ljfinkel@umich.edu.
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Email arts@michigandaily.com to request an application.
EPISODE REVIEW As I watched the latest installment of “The Good Wife,” I knew I was witnessing greatness. Three minutes in, A+ through a series of perThe Good fectly placed Wife flashback shots so quiet “Hitting you really do the Fan” feel like you’re CBS just glimpsing into Will’s memories, the episode launches into a tumultuous firestorm. This episode is a warzone. Former colleagues, friends, lovers become enemies, spitting acidic threats back and forth and exploiting each other’s weaknesses. Every character hides behind a wall of denial, convinced their professional decisions can truly be separated from their personal relationships. Alicia and Cary see their
choice to leave as heroic; Will and Diane see it as betrayal. “God, you’re awful,” Will sputters at Alicia. “And you don’t even know how awful you are.” He’s right, and while critic Emily Nussbaum’s tweet equating Alicia to Heisenberg seems a bit of a stretch, there’s a definite sense that seasonfive Alicia will have even more of a bite than we’ve seen in the past. She has always been the most fascinating when she toes the line between the “St.
Pretending to be Macklemore
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
It’s surprising how much a pair of sunglasses can do for a guy. Andrew Hales decided to work his borderline-Macklemore-lookalike status to con hundreds of people into lining up and begging for autographs and pictures. With the help of ATD movement, a company which promotes “partying for positive change,” the two-minute clip is remarkably entertaining. “Losing All Hope Was Freedom,” Andrew Hales’s youtube channel/comedic outlet, is full of hilarious and awkward public stunts.
Retired Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield wrote a book, it’s coming out and it’s probably going to be awesome. The commercial promoting the book’s launch depicts an earthbound spaceman bumbling around aimlessly, struggling with day-to-day life on the blue planet. That is, until he comes across a cardboard likeness of the ISS’s most famous member promoting his new book, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.” The resulting interaction is priceless. Bonus: The video was designed by the Colonel’s son.
TRAILER REVIEW
CBS
Alicia” she’s perceived as and someone slightly more sinister. In “Hitting the Fan,” she doesn’t just toe the line: Her white hat is gone. She’s swept up in the war, forced to pick sides. Much like the season three finale of “Mad Men,” “Hitting the Fan” hits a reset button. But this isn’t a finale. For that, I’m incredibly thankful, because much like Alicia and Carey, I’m ready for war. —KAYLA UPADHYAYA
Throughout the creation of the so-called “Marvel Cinematic Universe,” not one person has ever said, at least as far A as I know, that Captain Captain America is America: their favorite Avenger. The Winter That’s probSouldier ably due to his boy scout, Disney good guy mentality — in other words, Cap lacks the sardonic wit of Tony Stark, the omnipotence plus anachronistic misplacement of Thor and the fear and sincerity of Bruce Banner. That will all change come Spring 2014 with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”. Picking up where “The Avengers” left off, Steve Rogers is still trying to find his place in the world when a new mysterious
DISNEY
enemy, the titular Winter Soldier, threatens the United States, the world … something. We don’t find out what’s being threatened, the Winter Soldier’s identity or anything about the plot — and that’s great. When so many trailers give away half the movie, it’s nice to know that directors Anthony and Joe Russo are confident enough in their film to keep it secret. What we get is a bit of humor, political intrigue, moral ques-
tioning, good old-fashioned U.S.Soviet throwdown action and a ton of badassery. The last 10 seconds feature the coolest action sequences in recent memory. 1970s political thrillers inspired the film, so think “The Manchurian Candidate” injected with Super Soldier Serum. It’s going to be a hell of a ride. If you’re still not convinced, Robert Redford is in it — need I say more? —JAMIE BIRCOLL
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HEALTH AND FITNESS COLUMN
LARPING THROUGH LIFE
I
COURTESY OF DAGOHIR
LARPing events are spread out all throughout the Midwest.
LARPing brings diehards together Live Action Role Playing culture on the rise in A 2 By CONRAD FOREMAN Daily Arts Writer
Prior to last night, my knowledge on Live Action Role Playing, or LARPing, was pretty much limited to everything I learned from the 2008 Paul Rudd/Sean William-Scott classic “Role Models.” I’m not one for judging books by their covers, but it’s fair to say that my perception is that LARPing is a nerdy activity. Don’t get me wrong — I respect the hell out of anyone pursuing something they love. So, with that in mind, I sat down to get schooled in LARPing 101 with Todd and Carrie Knabusch, Ann Arbor residents who that consider the sport one of their favorite activities. “I overheard some of my friends talking about it, and I thought it sounded cool, so I ended up going out and trying it,” Carrie said. “It was fun, so I kept doing it.” “I started back in 2005,” Todd said. “It was something that my friends in high school, at the time, went out and tried and they were like, ‘Oh, you got to come try this; it’s tons of fun.’ So, I went out and tried it and just got sucked into it.” I had a couple veterans on my hands. To commit to anything for five or eight years means, you have to be pretty passionate about it. “It’s a great way to relieve aggression,” Carrie said “It’s
very physically active; you get to beat up on people and not get in trouble for it. Plus, you can meet a lot of interesting people.” Todd spoke about how he enjoys the technique involved in fighting — that some serious LARPers had broken it down from “swinging sticks at each other” to something closer resembling martial arts. Todd and Carrie attend LARPing practices three or four times per week. They also travel significant distances to other gatherings in Toledo, Ohio, Bowling Green and other cities in Michigan. While this weekly regimen is pretty packed, Todd and Carrie are willing to go the extra mile for large events, which they attend twice a month. Their quests to LARP have taken them all over, from Big 10 states such as Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois, and down to SEC country in South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and even Texas. To give some perspective, the practices that Todd and Carrie attend throughout the week range in attendance from eight to 40 people, while the large weekend events can be to upward of 600. Here in Ann Arbor, the couple participates in a local game of Dagorhir. Dagorhir was founded in 1977 in Maryland. Originally based on “The Lord of the Rings,” it has grown into an international game played by thousands. “I would say probably about six, seven years ago, our area really exploded as far as population growth and interest in Dagorhir as a whole,” Todd
said. “And it’s been kind of up and down. It exploded and got really big for a few years.” “The last maybe two years it was a little bit of a down time for a lot of people,” Carrie added. “And now it’s starting to pick up. More and more people are showing interest in it now than in the last one or two years.” Todd and Carrie explained how the portrayal of LARPing in the mainstream media differs from the reality. Carrie specifically addressed “Role Models.” “That is more like a very true LARP,” Carrie explained. “And Dagorhir is more physical than that. There’s a lot less actual role-playing. We pick names for each other and we wear funny clothes and whatnot, but we don’t really act out our deaths, and we don’t have magic and we don’t go over the top with being dramatic. Some people do, and it’s kind of amusing, but it’s not the focus of Dagorhir.” “There’s such a wide variety between people who completely do role-playing and very little fighting, to the complete opposite side of the spectrum, where there’s almost all fighting and very little role-playing,” Todd clarified. Before we parted ways, I asked the Knabusches to explain why people like me should give LARPing a try. “You get to just be a crazy kid,” Carrie said. “And if you can handle people judging you a little bit, you can just brush it off and have a good time, be ridiculous.” “You get to go out and beat people with sticks and not get in trouble for it,” Todd added. What’s not to like about that?”
SINGLE REVIEW Released this past May, Disclosure’s excellent debut album, Settle, is a complex and rhythmic B+ exploration Appolo of electronica and Disclosure house in the Island 21st century. The album is even classified on its Wikipedia page as “future garage,” whatever that means. On “Apollo,” the British electronic duo’s first release since their album, Guy and Howard Lawrence get back to basics. “Apollo” isn’t as dynamic as some of the stronger songs on Settle; instead, it’s a straight and simple deep house track complete with sinister synths, a chopped up, desperate vocal sample and a dark, warbling bass that splashes the song with a small dose of tangible terror. The track man-
Thursday, October 31, 2013 — 3B
t’s the end of another stressful week — packed with the usual slew of things to do, places to be and people to see — and I still have three novels and four scripts to read, decades of film history to catch up on and two papers to draft. But, CARLY seriously KEYES earning a breather from academia, I plop down on the couch and turn on my TV. I learn that James Spader is back on primetime as America’s most wanted criminal-turnedcrime fighter (think Hannibal Lecter meets Jack Bauer). So, five episodes later (which at this point is, of course, every episode to date), Friday night is gone forever. There’s no question I could’ve been more productive with my time and made some healthier decisions like exercising or reading a book. But this isn’t another knock on digital obsession. I’m perfectly content with how I spent those six hours decompressing on the couch and immersing myself in Spader’s oozing charm and sexy wit. I’m just simply wondering: Why all five episodes? And even if I had taken the higher road and gone for a run or delved into my copy of “Adaptation,” I guarantee I’d have logged eight miles and finished the book in one sitting. Why does one of anything never seem enough? The day after my Spader-fest, I went to Costco. Talk about excessive: It’s like a playground for adult consumers where they swing through the bulk grocery department and climb on the piles of discount designer clothes while the “chaperones” stationed throughout the area offer them complimentary refreshments. But now, when the bell rings and I re-enter the real world, I’m usually down a couple hundred dollars from buying things I don’t need. My shelves are stocked with glasses, and still, I couldn’t turn down a 20-pack for $20. I have plenty of pans,
but there was no way a 3-pack for $25 wasn’t going to end up in my cart. And then, a nearly textbook trip to this super-sized supermarket took an unexpected turn when, as my mom and I made our exit, the employee guarding the door (making sure your receipt and cart are one and the same) inquired about our pack of muffins: “Did you get just one pack of muffins?” Apparently, the muffins were a two-for-one deal, and my mom wasn’t aware. Even still, she informed the woman that one pack of cake-sized blueberry muffins is plenty. Plus, after navigating a swelling sea of Saturday shoppers for an hour, we just wanted to get the hell out of there, and the bakery was located at the opposite end of the store. “But … it’s free,” she immediately said. “I know this is hard to believe,” I quickly replied. “But one is enough.”
Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man? The woman must’ve silently signaled for backup because, all of a sudden, a second woman sporting the official red vest/ khaki pants combo appeared and placed her hands firmly on our cart. And this one had a WalkieTalkie. “I’ll radio someone to get it for you! Which kind do you want?” At this point, a traffic jam of carts — helmed by others who also just want to also get the hell out of there — had accumulated behind us. I tried harder to make our wishes clear: “We don’t want more muffins. Thank you!” But she’d already gotten in touch with “Ralph in Bakery.” I sighed and gave in. “The apple-cinnamon then …” Minutes later, a pack of apple-cinnamon muffins
appeared in the trusted hands of another red vest/khaki pants combo. “I can’t believe you’d leave without your other pack of muffins!” Ralph said. A typical human and working man, Ralph was just doing his job. We’re biologically driven to consume and accumulate, socially encouraged to own and collect and economically advised to go after deals and specials — even if it’s more than we need. So, thanks to Ralph and crew, I now had a pack of muffins that would go to waste and glasses and pans that wouldn’t fit in my cabinets. I looked around my home; I owned so much but needed and used so little. I discussed the Costco muffin incident with a friend. He said I should try “going minimalist,” which is just a rather formal way of saying, “Don’t buy things you don’t need and get rid of shit you don’t use.” “Decluttering” is the technical term. So, I put myself through a classic minimalist exercise: I removed every piece of clothing that I hadn’t worn in a year. One-third of my wardrobe covered the floor by the time I’d finished. So far, I'm liking the results of this experiment. I created more space in my life — physically and psychologically — and then profited financially. After donating most of the neglected attire to charity, I listed a few select pieces on eBay and smiled as the bids rolled in. So, though time is money, I’m going to let my TV binging habit slide for now and focus on altering my “more is better” instincts when it comes to the tangible, especially as we head into the holiday season. My advice: try to keep it black and white when faced with a buying decision. Either you need it or you don’t. As we coexist in this world of excess, owning less can actually give you more whether it’s extra space in your closet, additional dollars in your Paypal account or a happy combination of the both. Keyes is never going back to Costco again. To convinve her otherwise, email cekmusic@umich.edu
TRICK OR TWEET! @MICHIGANDAILY
MUSIC VIDEO REVIEW
ISLAND
ages to maintain momentum throughout, culminating in a tension-building breakdown near the end that features laser gunfire and sporadic, tsunami warning-sounding synth flares that would have been perfectly at home some-
The pitfalls of overconsumption
where in Kanye’s Yeezus. Compared to the duo’s past standouts, “Apollo” ranks somewhere in the middle, but, being that it’s Disclosure, you’ll still have no problem moving your feet. —JACKSON HOWARD
Unlike mere civilians, when Justin Timberlake does something, he does it better than everyone else. AUnsurprisingly, music TKO videos are Justin no excepTimberlake tion. His RCA latest effort for “TKO” off of The 20/20 Experience — 2 Of 2 is another theatrical display that brings the song to life. The video, which stars Timberlake along with an emotionally unstable Riley Keough, tracks the duo’s rocky relationship through uncomfortable glances, heated arguments and kitchen sex. Because the natural next step, after you throw a bowl of salad on the ground in fury, is to have sex with Justin Timberlake on a countertop.
RCA
Between the flashbacks of the couple’s ups and downs, the video teases with bits of the unsettling present, showing Timberlake tied to the back of a speeding truck driven by Keough. Apparently kitchen sex can only remedy so much. Ultimately, Keough throws
herself out of the truck, letting national treasure Justin Timberlake drag along with the vehicle as it takes a fateful plunge from a cliff. Disturbing and captivating, “TKO” is another well crafted addition to the Timberlake canon. —ERIKA HARWOOD
the b-side
4B — Thursday, October 31, 2013
SCREAMS From Page 1B Josh McDaniel doesn’t look like someone who scares people for a living. Open-faced, soft-spoken, lightly built and perpetually smiling, he’s the type of guy who most would expect to hold their arm, kindly guiding them through a dark room should they lose their way. On general occasions, he probably is that guy, but every weekend, he becomes a deranged lunatic, terrorizing any paying customer that has the misfortune of stumbling in front of him at Ypsilanti’s Night Terrors, one of Michigan’s most established haunted houses. “The goal is to leave people traumatized. And this is pretty much the only time and place where that’s OK,” McDaniel said. He plays an unhinged filmmaker with a southern drawl, pleading innocent spectators to sample his twisted videography once they enter his “scene,” codename for the room or space in which he’s tasked with “entertaining” clients. “In the pre-scene, customers get to see these messed-up, homemade films, with the grossest stuff you can imagine. Then I get right in their faces and say ‘Did you see mah movies? What’d you thank of ’em? You ain’t just sayin’ that cuz I’m here are ya?’ ” McDaniel said. “People will always think, ‘Just say yes to him. Just say yes,’ and then I hit a really high note with ‘Thanks for your criticism,’ which is somehow weird enough to prime them for the rest of the house.” Before moving to Michigan from South Carolina, McDaniel
was already a performer by trade. He did stand-up comedy and frequently worked in professional stage productions, an experience he cites as having helped him in his terrorizing role. In order to secure a job at the haunted house, he, like the countless other regular employees he works with, had to audition for specific openings that managers advertised. “It’s almost like the NFL draft,” said manager Jim Connors. “There are six event managers, each responsible for a different attraction, and we just kind of sit down and argue among ourselves about why certain actors would work best where.” The audition consisted of a line reading and scene test, where McDaniel had to effectively use a prop to create scares. Despite the highly professional setting, the people working at Night Terrors describe their weekend jobs as something of an escape from the typically mundane office life. Chris Doemer, an actor who has been working at Night Terrors for two years, likened the haunted house to an emotional release. “I work for an office, just kind of sitting in a room with no windows and doing data entry, file work and sensitivity training,” he said. “Doing something which is kind of the polar opposite of everyday living just allows you to let out that aggression and feel the adrenaline rush.” The job is also heavily reliant on the workers’ capacity for physical exertion. Shifts typically last the entire show-time, from 7:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays and Thursdays and even later on Fridays and Saturdays. Performers are required to stay in character
MARLENE LACASSE/Daily
All regular actors must audition for specific roles before the season starts.
for a large part of that duration or prepare for the slew of customers the haunted house usually draws. “Sometimes, it can be like removing cysts out of my body, because you have to apply yourself every night to be somebody that you’re clearly not. It can mess with you,” Doemer said. The actors rehearse every line assigned to them beforehand, with small adjustments and additions made over the course of the entire scare season, which began on Sep. 27 and ends Halloween night. Even the props, most of which a technical staff has built from scratch, are adjusted as managers gauge how well the audience is reacting to each. Walking through the “warehouse,” where props are stored and actors are prepped before work nights, is like being thrust behind the curtains of a morbid Broadway production. Fake severed heads, smears of faux blood, plastic gargoyles and fully functional fog machines line the walls and litter the floor. The scene is framed perfectly by a haunting organ melody, wafting through from an unknown corner while a large plastic sheet separates the storage area and the makeup room. At least 10 to 15 performers squeeze in front of plated wall mirrors. Some are going through makeup while others pace the floor, practicing lines. One actor, chewing on gummy bears and silently mumbling his script back to himself, refuses to sit down for an interview. He’s getting in the zone. Stepping away could ruin the whole process. A supervisor motions onlookers away. The six managers are tasked with coordinating everything to a T, from positioning and organizing actors to overseeing technical difficulties with equipment. Some, like Connors, have been with the company for more than two decades. Connors knows every corner of every square foot of the haunted houses like the back of his hand. Like the other managers, he makes sure the actors are interacting together cohesively like a well oiled machine, but also works with a team of technicians that oversees any necessary modifications to the already gargantuan facility. “I started out strictly on a parttime basis, and through the years, my involvement increased as we expanded.” he said. “It got to the point where I did a lot of the building (and) design work, and it all just kind of became a labor of love — I had to enjoy what I was doing.” Connors wanders through the sprawling set of buildings like he has made the tour a thousand times before (which he probably
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MARLENE LACASSE/Daily
Most props are largely built from scrap and enhanced and maintained throughout the scare season.
has). He frequently calls attention to the level of detail in every single scene. From rubbery imitation severed arms splayed out on false operating tables to a Leatherface lookalike wielding a chainsaw and swinging on a cord suspended from the ceiling, it becomes clear how much thought has gone behind each embellishment. The six attractions — The Ultimate Haunted Barn, The Asylum, The Mined Shaft, Alien Caged Clowns, The Labyrinth and Hayride of the Lost — are all maintained and planned individually. Each is staffed by its own slate of actors and usually managed by the same supervisor. All the rooms flow together organically. Walking through, Connors stresses how every attraction could work as a standalone haunted house. “Typically, when we sit and plan, the big thing that we really concentrate on is the theme. We want to carry a theme from the beginning of an event to the end of an event,” Connors said. “I think a lot of other places just create scene after scene of what they think ‘scary’ is and there’s no real consistency to it.” The Mined Shaft is like a shrine to a sense of claustrophobia. In every scene, the walls are dark and the hallways narrow. The entire building seems to be caving in, giving customers the feeling that they’re trapped in a faulting mine. Toward the end of the tour, participants have to kneel down and squeeze through what can only be described as an inverted bouncy house, inflatable walls pushing in on all sides as they shove their way to the exit. And does it work? “I’ve seen a guy that was really enthusiastic about being in the front of the line who got scared, turned around and literally ran through a wall.” Connors said. “And you have to understand, our events are very well built.” Anyone over the age of 10 can
THE D’ART BOARD
go in without adult supervision, though it’s highly recommended to attend with a group of people. Visitors have been known to lose their way, curl up into the fetal position and wait for someone to come get them. At least one person “goes to the bathroom” every week. Needless to say, Night Terrors doesn’t hold back the hurt. But the intriguing bit is how much enthusiastic feedback these same, terrified people are willing to give. Some of the scariest parts of the tours, including but not limited to a giant mechanical goat head and a plastic cadaver bound to a couch attached to the ceiling, have been added and modified specifically because of the comments managers sometimes receive about particular sections of the haunted houses not packing enough punch. Brandon Wiard, whose family owns the haunted houses along with the accompanying cider mill and country fair, described how it’s important to make sure that the identity of the attractions is maintained despite tweaks and alterations. “Think of it like when you go to see a really good movie that you end up loving and immediately want to go watch it again,” he said. “If there’s a really significant change, you lose that effect.” Some people have made it a tradition to come to the establishment every year in preparation for Halloween. These “veterans” often times just show up to go through the same attraction multiple times, looking to connect with the actors that have been terrifying them for years. “We open the doors and we get the phone calls and so many times, the same people have been coming year to year for so long that we actually think of them in a scene before we set it up,” Wiard said. This idea of growing with the haunted houses is something Wiard has experience with. Night Terrors started up when he was three years old and Wiard got
involved with the country fair in his teens. As a youth, he was responsible for organizing and coordinating the “kiddie” haunted house, which he ran most days after school. “It was still a portion of the night-time haunted house, but just one monster running around,” he recounted. “But I used to love it. I remember always coming home without my voice because I’d be screaming so much.” After taking a break from working in the family business, Wiard returned three years ago, and since then has been focusing on perfecting Night Terrors. He’s cites a passion for his work, evident in the level of detail every employee is happy to boast about, as the most important driving factor for his work. In every corner of the grounds, you get the overwhelming sense that everyone is enjoying what they’re doing. The managers are casually joshing around with the actors, jibing each other for setting up equipment wrong or guiding newbies through their first night of scaring. It’s an eclectic mix of people, but it’s obvious they’re all here for the same reason: to celebrate a joint love for anything creepy. I think Connors summarized it best when he showed off the Hayride of the Lost. He pointed at a small opening into the woods where a makeshift cabin had been constructed. As a tractor carrying a group of approximately 20 customers pulled over next to it, an actor burst out onto a small balcony and shouted something along the lines of, “You’ll be so terrified, you’ll run like your hair is on fire!” Moments later, a jet of flame erupted from a chimney-like chute on top of the cabin. Connors chuckled and pointed. “Yup,” he said. “It’s that look on their faces right there — closest thing I’ll get to free entertainment.”
Lou Reed passes to the other (wild) side
Each week we take shots at the biggest developments in the entertainment world. Here’s what hit (and missed) this week.
Two days after the loss of “The Simpson”’s Marcia Wallace, Lou Reed passes away
Hail to the king Sam Raimi is confirmed to helm Army of Darkness sequel
Ja Rules cooking Ja Rule to pen microwave-based cookbook inspired by recent prison stunt
Design by Nick Cruz
What else is new? Chris Brown enters rehab in the hopes of avoiding his court date for assault
The Joe-Bros are no mo’! The Jonas Brothers [finally] break up.